Planning and zoning hearings officers; duties and powers; authority of governing body or planning commission to conduct hearings. (1) A county governing body may authorize appointment of one or more planning and zoning hearings officers, to serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. The hearings officer shall conduct hearings on applications for such classes of permits and contested cases as the county governing body designates

(2) In the absence of a hearings officer a planning commission or the governing body may serve as hearings officer with all the powers and duties of a hearings officer. [1973 c.552 §13; 1977 c.766 §10]