Knox County often speaks proudly about transparency in government, and to its credit, the County has built a solid Records Management Department that serves as an impartial third party between government offices and the public.
Through the Knox County Open Records Portal, reporters, news agencies, bloggers like myself, and citizen audit activists can create a single account, provide the required identification once, and then submit public records requests without jumping through new hoops every time. It’s efficient, professional, and—most importantly—fair.
That’s why it was surprising this weekend to learn that the Knox County Register of Deeds does not participate in the Open Records Portal. The same question also applies to the Property Assessor.
How the Open Records Portal Is Supposed to Work
The Records Management Department exists so county employees can act as a neutral buffer between those requesting records and the offices that maintain them. This protects both sides:
- Citizens don’t face unnecessary barriers.
- Offices aren’t accused of selective compliance.
- Everyone operates under the same documented process.
Once an account is created, requesters don’t have to repeatedly re-submit identification or explanations. Transparency becomes routine, not discretionary.
Most County Departments Already Participate
A wide range of Knox County departments already use the Open Records Portal, including:
- Air Quality / Health Department
- Benefits
- County Commission
- Criminal Court
- Election Commission
- Engineering and Public Works
- Environmental Health / Health Department
- Finance
- Finance / Health Department
- Grants and Community Development
- Human Resources
- Law Department
- Office of the Mayor
- Parks and Recreation
- Probation
- Regional Forensic Center
- Risk Management
- Trustee
That’s a substantial list—and it shows the system works.
But Two Major Offices Are Missing
Despite the County’s commitment to transparency, the Register of Deeds and the Property Assessor remain outside the Open Records Portal. These offices handle records that directly affect:
- Property ownership
- Property valuation
- Deeds and titles
- Tax implications
In other words, records that matter deeply to taxpayers. On January 12, 2026 Register said here that in full transparency he post monthly financials, but if you the taxpayers, or the media need records of the operation of the office or records, you can not go through the Open Records Portal,
Why should citizens have to navigate a separate process for these offices when so many others operate under a unified, transparent system?
Clarifying Where Certain Records Belong
For the sake of accuracy, it’s worth noting:
- Marriage licenses are handled by the County Clerk
- Divorce records are maintained by Fourth Circuit Court or Chancery Court
- Birth and death certificates are handled by the Health Department’s Vital Records
Those divisions make sense. What’s harder to explain is why property-related records—some of the most requested documents in local government—aren’t handled through the same transparent portal as most other departments.
A Reasonable Question Deserves an Answer
This isn’t an accusation; it’s a question.
If Knox County already has a Records Management Department designed to ensure fairness, consistency, and transparency, why aren’t all major record-holding offices participating?
Taxpayers deserve clarity.
Transparency should be the rule—not the exception.
If the Open Records Portal is good enough for most of county government, it’s fair to ask why it isn’t good enough for all of it.
