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County Clerk
Bill Knowles
has served for
almost 36 years—a
record for an
elected official
in this office.
Through his
years in leadership
the office has
been cited numerous
times by The
National Association
of Counties
for innovative
changes.
The County
Officials Association
of Tennessee
(COAT) elected
him as the Outstanding
Official of
the Year for
2006. He was
cited for keeping
his office on
the cutting-edge
of technology.
After winning
election in
1974 the problem
of long tag
lines was tackled
by starting
a program making
it possible
to order vehicle
registration
renewals by
mail. This initiative
played a role
in the Tennessee
Legislature
making tags-by-mail
mandatory in
each of the
95 Tennessee
counties.
In 2001 Knowles
offered an option
permitting motorists
to renew a tag
by internet—a
first for the
State of Tennessee.
He also contracted
with the State
to issue driver
license renewals
and to process
most vehicle
titles locally.
With a dedicated
staff and splendid
assistance from
the County’s
IT department
other functions
have been streamlined.
Below are several
other milestones:
- Preparation
of County Commission
minutes advanced
from a steno
pad to become
the first in
the State totally
computerized.
- A recorded
title and registration
info line available
24/7 was created.
- The Mayor
and County Commission
approved his
vision to open
Hamilton County’s
first Tag and
Title Branch
location in
1996.
- In 2002,
the office unveiled
a Business Tax
“Wizard" to
help business
taxpayers.
- Marriage records
were computerized,
setting the
stage in 2009
for citizens
and genealogists
to conduct marriage
research and
study online.
The County
Clerk's philosophy
to keep a healthy
attitude toward
change has added
an extra dimension
of service to
taxpayers.
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