Tenn. Code Ann. § 18-6-103: Certain boards of commissioners authorized to appoint own clerks

(a) Notwithstanding the duties prescribed for the county clerk in chapters 1 and 2 of this title and §§ 18-6-101 , 18-6-102 and 18-6-104 , the board of commissioners in any county with a population of six hundred thousand (600,000) or more is authorized to employ its own clerk to serve at its meetings and to employ its own clerical and administrative help reasonably necessary to take the minutes of its meetings and to transcribe the minutes, subject to the approval of the board of commissioners, as official records of the county.

(b) The board of commissioners shall appropriate such funds as are necessary to cover the cost of the clerk and staff provided for in subsection (a).