Bates City, MO Sunshine Request Data

City of Bates City: ALPR Surveillance Infrastructure Audit This page contains the compliance findings and operational data obtained via Sunshine Law requests from the City of Bates City, Missouri, regarding its Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program.

Executive Overview:

In late July 2026, Midwest Transparency Audit initiated a probe into the City of Bates City to determine the extent of its localized vehicular surveillance footprint. Our audit reveals that the City of Bates City does not currently operate an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) network. The city has officially gone on the record confirming a zero-footprint status and noted a significant operational reality regarding its local law enforcement.

Procurement & Financial Breakdown

The procurement trail indicates a complete absence of localized surveillance spending:
Zero-Footprint Confirmation: The City Clerk officially certified that they have reviewed city records and confirmed they do not possess any of the requested Flock Safety records.
Department Status: In a notable revelation, the City Clerk formally stated that the Bates City Police Department is currently disbanded.
Financial Impact: As a result of this determination, no municipal taxpayer funds are currently allocated to ALPR surveillance infrastructure or Flock Group Inc. contracts within the city's direct jurisdiction.

The Sunshine Law Battle: Audit Timeline

The documentation traces a highly compliant, albeit slightly delayed, public records inquiry with the city's administrative office:
July 23, 2026: Midwest Transparency Audit submitted a formal four-part public records request to the Bates City Mayor and Aldermen. The request demanded all vendor contracts, inter-agency data-sharing logs, private surveillance access frameworks, and localized usage policies.
July 28, 2026: City Clerk Charity Eaton acknowledged the forwarded request and invoked a delay, anticipating completion by August 5, 2026, citing a limited number of staff employed with the city.
August 4, 2026: City Clerk Eaton fulfilled the request ahead of her extended deadline. She officially stated on the record, "I have reviewed city records and confirmed that we do not have any of the records requested". She additionally confirmed, "our Police Department is disbanded at this time".
The Current Status: The City of Bates City is officially classified as a surveillance-free, "Zero-Footprint" municipality, further contextualized by the disbanded status of its local police force. The immediate audit for this agency is closed. Midwest Transparency Audit will continue to monitor regional data-sharing matrices to ensure external county or state agencies are not deploying networks within the city's borders.

Emails

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Status: COMPLETE. The Clerk for Bates City has gone on public record to state they have no ALPR systems in place, and the local police department did not utilize the technology. She also stated that currently, the Bates City Police Department is disbanded.