This is a shame. We have been using a digital camera now for three years now and it has saved us a bundle. Most of the court houses don't mind as it frees them up from making copies. I hate the idea of going back to trying to write everything down again. Seems like I always miss something. Things like a witnesses name on a marriage certificate can sometimes be a big help.....and you don't even know it till months-years later. We have been to the 4 county block in north east Iowa several times but it is a 5 hour trip and if you miss a piece of information you can't just "pop in" and check it out. How about microfilm? What years are vital records available and are they complete? I know when we go to the historical society it seems like there is always a reel or two missing and guess what.....it's the one we need. This is a real shame and hopefully something can be done. Anyone have any ideas on who to write to get this changed? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharyl" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2002 3:35 AM Subject: [IAALLAMA-L] Courthouse records > I am passing this along for information only. I do not make the courthouse > rules and have no control over what they do at the courthouse - so please, > please do not reply to me. If you have a comment, contact the courthouse: > 110 Allamakee Street > Waukon IA 52172 > > ---Note posted to the Iowa-L a few days ago --- > <<Allamakee won't let you use your digital camera and they charge $5.00 per > copy!!! They just added this new rule recently.>> > > ---I wrote to the poster and asked for more info. and received this > answer--- > <<The first time I went to the county recorder's office I asked if you could > use digital cameras and they told me they couldn't stop people but they > didn't think it was fair to the people who had to pay the $5 photocopy fee. > I went back at a later date with my digital camera and started taking > pictures and they pointed to a sign that told me I could not take pictures. > I realize they can put the sign up but I wonder if they can legally enforce > it.>> > > ---I realize that sometimes new rules are made and prices go up -- but from > .50 to $5 seemed completely out of line to me, so I asked the assistance of > one of our Allamakee list members who went to the courthouse--- > <<I swung by the Recorders office in the Allamakee county courthouse today. > It is: photocopies of the VITAL records, birth, death & marriage are $5 a > copy & have been that price for a couple of years now. All other NON vital > records are .50 ea. page. That includes land records, military records, & > obits. Probates & wills, divorce records, naturalization records at the > Clerk of courts office are .50 ea. page. It is only the Vital records that > cost $5, (which I think is rather spendy too) There is a sign posted about > digital cameras not being allowed in the Recorders office. I think the sign > about digital cameras is fairly new but the $5 for vitals has been in force > for quite a while. You can pass this info on & hopefully clear a few things > up.>> > > So there you have it -- I hope this clears things up! > Sharyl > County Coordinator, Allamakee Co. IAGenWeb > http://www.rootsweb.com/~iaallama/ > > > > ==== IAALLAMA Mailing List ==== > Make an Allamakee Co. connection!! Visit Phyllis Peterson's personal web-site: Allamakee County Iowa Surnames > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/8430/acnames.htm