Oklahoma regulators discuss reopening headquarters in early September

 

Some Oklahoma regulators are ready to reopen their headquarters building to the public in order to resume in-person hearings and cases.

Corporation Commissioners on Tuesday expressed their concerns about the number of cases that have not been heard because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commissioner Dana Murphy especially pushed for a resumption of holding hearings in open court in the Jim Thorpe building.

“I’m definitely supportive n moving forward on this,” she said during an afternoon regular meeting. “It’s time to have a plan now. I’m ready to go forward with a date certain.”

“I too think it’s time. We should start to prioritize cases,” added Todd Hiett, chairman of the 3-member commission. “I think we’re set to go and time to set the cases, maybe two weeks from now.”

Eventually he and Commissioner Murphy agreed to reopen the headquarters in early September.

“You’re talking a year before some of these cases can be heard,” added Murphy.

Given the opportunity during a public comment period, attorneys for a handful of energy companies expressed their support to resume in-person hearings.

Oklahoma State Sen. Dave Rader of Tulsa joined in the comment and supported a reopening to the public after Labor Day.

“That would be great because I’m hearing a concern about a backlog of cases,” he said, referring to an estimated 1,500 cases that await hearings.

Tim Rhodes, Director of Administration for the Commission reported that the entire staff of the commission is at work.

“We’re virtually 100% back to work, even those in the at-risk category,” he told commissioners. “That includes 250 field staff. All weigh stations and ports of entry are open and fuel inspectors and oil and gas inspectors are at work.”

At least 24 of the 27 buildings of the state capitol complex are closed or secure to the public according to Rhodes. The Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion are among three that are still open.

Rhodes said the highest emphasis had been placed on remote work in order to emphasize employee safety.

Some corporation commission meetings that were held since the start of the pandemic included commissioners in their courtroom. But many were conducted remotely by telephonic communications.  The Commission had instituted strict requirements for attorneys and representatives who attended a few in-person hearings including mandatory facial masks, the taking of temperatures, social distancing in the courtroom and immediate departure after the hearing.