Within minutes of concluding their regular public meeting on Tuesday, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners almost immediately held another meeting, one that did not include the public and fell under the new state law allowing gatherings exempt from the Open Meeting Law.
A filing of the Open Meeting Act Exempt Event Compliance Form on Wednesday revealed how commissioners Kim David, Todd Hiett and Brian Bingman met at 1:40 p.m. and held a nearly one-hour discussion with certain staff members. Their regular public meeting lasted only about 10 minutes before it was adjourned.
The discussion during the private meeting focused on updates regarding 11 bills in the legislature that could have an impact on the commission’s duties. The bills in question deal with new requirements, which if adopted and signed into law, would create more responsibilities in the area of oil and gas, wind and solar as well as nuclear energy.
A second topic of discussion was an update from Commission Administrator Brandy Wreath “on potential changes in implementation of OMES approval processes for agency needs.”
Those staffers listed in attendance in addition to the 3 commissioners were: Jeff Kline, legal advisor to Commissioner David; Erica O’Neal, Regulatory Assistant/paralegal to Commissioner David; Nicole King, Legal Advisor to Commissioner Hiett; Jared Haines, Administrative Aid to Commissioner Bingman; and Louis Jackson, Advisor and Assistant to Commissioner Bingman.