The Lawrence County Public Records Commission
Their Duties and Responsibilities
The governing body over the Lawrence County Archives is the Lawrence County Public Records Commission and the county executive. 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 executive/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. Members are not paid a salary, except that any member who does not already receive a fixed annual salary from the state or the county may receive a $25 for each meeting. (Most members of our commission do not expect compensation, but instead do this out of concern for the care of the county's records.) State law requires that the county public records commission meet at least twice a year.
Current members of the Lawrence County Public Records Commission are:
| Chairperson - Lila Gobbell | County Executive - Paul Rosson | Register of Deeds - Teresa Dunkin |
| County Commissioner - Chris Jackson | County Clerk - Chuck Kizer | County Genealogist - Wallace Palmore |
| General Sessions Judge - Patricia McGuire | County Historian, Archives Director, & Secretary - Kathy Niedergeses | Lawrence Co. Library Director - Teresa Newton |
The county legislative body appropriates funds for utilities and maintenance for the building, to pay salary for one full time staff member, purchase needed supplies, some small equipment, telephone and internet service.
*Additional Info will be added at a later date.
Last updated October 7, 2009 by Kathy Niedergeses