Although we cannot reveal the contents of the five documents which were withheld, we can describe them in general terms. Three of the documents are internal memoranda between employees of the Cabinet for Human Resources, employees of the Finance and Administration Cabinet s Division of Engineering, and an employee of the Division of Engineering and the architect on the project. In those memoranda, opinions are expressed and proposals made relative to the project. None of the memoranda reflect final agency action, and none confirm the absence of asbestos containing materials in the state office building. We affirm the Cabinet s decision to withhold two pages of handwritten notes of unknown authorship.
Many papers are simply work papers which are exempted because they are preliminary drafts and notes.
Yellow pads can be filled with outlines, notes, drafts and doodlings which are unceremoniously thrown in the wastebasket or which may in certain cases be kept in a desk drawer for future reference. Such preliminary drafts and notes and preliminary memoranda are part of the tools which a public employee or officer uses in hammering out official action within the function of his office. OAG 76-626, p. 2. These handwritten notes are work papers used by a public official in hammering out official action, and not records reflecting that official action. The final document which the Cabinet withheld is a bound report relating to the Owensboro state office building, apparently prepared by the project architect, and proposing two separate modification plans.