Immediately upon the election and qualification of the Executive Director of the Department of Transportation, he or she shall become vested with the duties and powers of the management and control of the Department of Transportation, under such orders, rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the State Transportation Commission; and in addition thereto he or she shall have the following specific powers and duties: 1. To supervise the state highway system under rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission; 2. To appoint and employ, supervise and discharge such professional, clerical, skilled and semiskilled help, labor and other employees as may be deemed necessary for the proper discharge of the duties of the Department and to fix and determine the salaries or wages to be paid subject to all such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the Commission, and subject to the policies, rules and regulations of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and the State Merit System of Personnel Administration; 3. To investigate and determine upon the various methods of road and bridge construction and maintenance in the different sections of the state; 4. To aid at all times in promoting highway improvements and maintenance throughout the state; 5. To make recommendations to the Commission in the letting of all contracts for construction or improvements of state highways or any contract for road or bridge construction or improvement where the work is being done in whole or in part with state or federal monies; and to act for the Commission in the purchase of all materials, equipment and supplies as provided for in this Code; 6. To place on the state highway system any road he or she deems necessary and to the best interest of the state, when approved by a majority of the entire Commission, and to eliminate from the state highway system any road when approved by a majority of the entire Commission; 7. To approve and pay claims for the services of professional, clerical, skilled and semiskilled help, laborers and other employees, for the Commission, when the salary or wages of such help and employees shall have been previously approved by the Commission; and to approve and pay progressive estimates on work done or contracts performed, where such work or contracts have theretofore been approved by the Commission; and to approve and pay claims for the purchase of equipment, materials and supplies theretofore authorized by the Commission; 8. To make emergency purchases of equipment, materials and supplies, and emergency contracts for construction and repairs, under rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission; 9. To grant permission to state agencies, municipalities and water companies or districts to lay any water pipeline within the rights-of-way of state highways, when approved by the Commission; 10. To act for the Department in all matters except as otherwise provided in this Code; and 11. The Executive Director is hereby authorized to employ the necessary personnel who shall have the duty to issue oversize and overweight permits in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 14 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes and to collect the fees therefor and to remit the same to the Oklahoma Tax Commission or as otherwise provided by law. Added by Laws 1968, c. 415, § 306, operative July 1, 1968. Amended by Laws 1982, c. 338, § 49, eff. July 1, 1982; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 571; Laws 2022, c. 116, § 18, eff. July 1, 2022.
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