A new division is being created at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission—Commission Support Services.
Commissioners unanimously approved the suggestion by Administrative Director Jim Marshall who told the three regulators, “ I’d like to express that there is a suggestion for a structural change that would better enable you as individual statewide elected officials to communicate both directly with the public as well as internally.”
He called it a realignment of existing resources and the new department would be staffed with those employees already in place. It would be a “standalone” department.
“The benefit of that is, it would provide you with immediate access to the talent that’s available that your peer group of other statewide elected officials enjoy,” explained Marshall.
He went on to explain that the current structure is the Director of Administration oversees the body while in other state agencies, the appointing authority or the election official has “direct access to communication functions.”
“And therefore, this is one that I believe would benefit you as elected officials as well as the citizens of Oklahoma to have that direct communications. Therefore, I’m offering up the suggestion of Item 5 to the Commission for support.”
The creation, as Marshall added, the new office won’t be any more cost nor the addition of more employees to the agency. The Director of Human Resources said it is a realignment of existing staff into one unit.
Marshall told commissioners the one unit “would be readily available to you individually.
“ Matter of fact, if this is approved when we return to the Jim Thorpe Building, they would be housed in one particular area for easy access by any of you members of the Commission.”
Commissioners were unanimous in their support and voted 3-0.
The agency currently has five separate divisions.