NEW ROADS — New Roads Councilman Kurt Kellerman has sued the city, alleging that it did not provide him with the public records that he requested. 

On Sept. 28, Kellerman requested to review public records related to credit card statements dating back to 2023, noting that an audit showed "they were never coded." 

"If they have been recently coded, I would like to see that," Kellerman's request said. 

According to the lawsuit, the custodian of the records replied to Kellerman's request, saying they would email him the records "when the documents are available."

As of the Oct. 8 lawsuit, the records were not sent or made available to Kellerman. The lawsuit adds that more than five business days had passed since the request was made, which Kellerman argues is a violation of state law. 

The state's public records provision says that if five days pass without a written determination or timeline of the delivery of the records, one "may institute proceedings for the issuance of a writ of mandamus, injunctive or declaratory relief, together with attorney fees, costs and damages." 

The lawsuit lists Mayor Theron Smith as a defendant.