Oklahoma’s Corporation Commissioners say they think it’s time to offer northeast Oklahomans the opportunity to attend in-person commission meetings in Tulsa.
It’s what they explained to OK Energy Today after they held a recent meeting that was exempt from the state’s Open Meeting law and discussed the issue of Tulsa meetings.
“Given the significant presence of oil and gas producers in the Tulsa area, the Corporation Commission should utilize our Tulsa office whenever possible. This would make our proceedings more accessible to those who work and reside nearby,” stated Commission Chairwoman Kim David in response to an emailed request.
Commissioner Todd Hiett said he wasn’t sure what prompted the discussion.
“But it was just mentioned in our meeting….and I think it’s just more of a way to give recognition to those out in the field as opposed to those in the headquarters in Oklahoma City. So I think it’s just an effort to recognize and let the field know we recognize that good work for the commission.
A spokesman for Commissioner Bingman stated, “Now that the Tulsa office is fully renovated, we think it would be nice to afford the over one million Oklahomans in the Tulsa area the ability to more easily access their elected commissioners and commission meetings.”
The spokesman added that the vast majority of commission meetings would continue to be held in Oklahoma City and that Commissioner Bingman “drives into Oklahoma City almost daily and will continue to do so.”
According to Trey Davis, a spokesman for the Commission, the Tulsa meetings “could be both public and non-public as required or permitted by the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act.”
The public meetings would also be “streamed” or made available over the internet much as those at the Oklahoma City headquarters are made public. Davis said the agency has had the capability to hold public meetings in locations outside of the primary offices in Oklahoma City for a few years and has done so previously.
“The agency invested in several mobile carts to permit streaming of hearings and Commission meetings. The equipment permits the Commissioners and administrative law judges to be nomadic, if necessary, to conduct meetings from just about anywhere so long as it is properly posted and provisions are made to provide for public participation to remain in compliance with the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act,” according to Davis.
A nearly 35-year old state law allows meetings and hearings to be held in the regional office. Renovations to the Tulsa office were completed in 2022. The offices are located in the 201 Executive Center located at 201 West 5th street, Suite 540.
