The Houston County Public Records Commission
Their Duties and Responsibilities
Houston County Archives is governed by the Houston County Public Records Commission and the County Mayor. Tennessee State Law requires that each county appoint a public records commission consisting of certain members. Each county's commission must consist of at least six members; additional members are optional. Three of these positions are appointed by the county mayor, then must be confirmed by the county commissioners. Of these three, one is to be a member of the county legislative body (county commissioner), one a judge of one of the courts in the county, and one a genealogist. In addition, certain county officials automatically become members by nature of the office they hold. These members are the county clerk, register of deeds, county historian and the county archivist. Members remain on the board until their term in office expires, or they are deceased. All members have the same right and privileges, including voting rights.
The commission must elect a chairperson and a secretary and keep minutes of all its proceedings and transactions. State law requires that the county public records commission meet at least twice a year.
Current members of the Houston County Public Records Commission are:
Chairperson/County Archivist Melissa Barker
County Clerk Robert Brown
Director, Houston County Library Kay French
County Commissioner Martha Greenfield
Register of Deeds Sherrill Potts Moore
Houston County Historian Nina Finley
Judge – City of Erin Markley Runyon Gill
Judge – Houston County Sidney Vinson
