Open Records Requests

WHAT IS A PUBLIC RECORD

The Georgia Open Records Act outlines the process for how members of the public can request and inspect governmental records.  The term "public record" includes "all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, computer based or generated information, data, data fields, or similar material prepared and maintained or received by an agency or by a private person or entity in the performance of a service or function for or on behalf of an agency or when such documents have been transferred to a private person or entity by an agency for storage or future governmental use." 

WHAT IS NOT A PUBLIC RECORD

No public officer or agency must prepare a new report, summary, or compilation if no such record exists when a member of the public submits an Open Records Request.  O.C.G.A § 50-18-71 (j.) Even if a record exists at the time of the request, state law may treat some or all of the information contained in such record as exemptions in O.C.G.A § 50-18-72, and there are numerous confidentiality statues in federal and state law which may be applicable to an Open Records Request. 

SUBMITTING A REQUEST 

All Open Records Requests must be sent to the Open Records Officer.

To submit a request: 

  • Find the Open Records Request form in the link below.  
  • Find the contact information for the Open Records Officer by clicking the appropriate department below.   


  1. General Government
  2. Fire Department
  3. Police Department
  4. Human Resources
  5. Water & Sewer Operations

Oasis Nichols, in her capacity as Deputy City Clerk of the City of Thomaston, is appointed to serve as the open records officer for Open Records Requests directed to or pertaining to the City of Thomaston with the exceptions of Open Records Requests directed to the Thomaston Fire Department, the Thomaston Police Department, Human Resources or Thomaston Water/Wastewater Operations.

To request open records, please submit a letter to the following address:
Oasis Nichols
City of Thomaston
106 E Lee Street
P.O. Box 672
Thomaston, GA 30286