City Secretary
Holly Owens, T.R.M.C. City Secretary
The role of a city secretary is similar to that of the secretary of state. The city secretary is the local official who maintains the integrity of the election process, ensures transparency and access to city records, facilitates the city's legislative process, and is the recorder of local government history. City secretaries act as local compliance officers for federal, state, and local statutes, including the Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act, and serve as the filing authority for campaign finance reports and financial disclosure statements.
- Oversees records management program for the City according to the Texas State Library.
- Process and certify alcoholic beverage applications; TABC website.
- Process all property liens and releases of liens; Coryell County Clerk Records Search page.
- Facilitates open record requests according to the Public Information Act.
Open Records
The City Secretary is the public information coordinator for the City of Gatesville. The City Secretary's Office is responsible for coordinating with all City Departments and ensuring that all Open Records Requests are processed in a timely manner in accordance with the Texas Public Information Act and city procedures.
Keep in mind a request for information is for documents that are already in existence. A governmental body is not required to answer questions, perform legal research or comply with a continuing request to supply information on a periodic basis as such information is prepared in the future.
The Public Information Act (PIA) generally requires a governmental body to release information to a requester. However, if a governmental body determines the information is excepted from disclosure under the Public Information Act, then the request and information must be reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Open Records Division (ORD). The ORD will issue a decision on whether the governmental body is permitted to withhold the requested information or if it must release the information to the requester.
For police records, clink on the link for the Police Department page and form.
