Sec. 231.176. COMMISSION. (a) To exercise the powers authorized by this subchapter, the commissioners court shall appoint a commission. If the county has a planning commission or historic commission, the commissioners court may designate either of those commissions to serve as the commission required by this section. The commission shall recommend boundaries for the original districts and appropriate regulations for each district.

(b) The commission shall elect a chairman from its members. The chairman serves in that capacity for a term set by the commission. The commission may at any time choose for a particular meeting or occasion an acting chairman as necessary from its members. In the event of resignation, end of term, or a vacancy, the commissioners court shall appoint new members. The commission shall fill a vacancy in the office of chairman by election. The commission may employ a secretary, an acting secretary, and other technical or clerical personnel.

(c) A member of the commission is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to expenses actually incurred while serving on the commission as provided by order of the commissioners court.

(d) The commission shall make a preliminary report and hold public hearings on that report before submitting a final report to the commissioners court. The commissioners court may not take final action or hold a public hearing until it has received the final report of the commission.

(e) Before the 10th day before the hearing date, written notice of each public hearing before the commission on a proposed change in a classification in the district shall be sent to:

(1) each owner of affected property or to the person who renders the property for county taxes; and

(2) each owner of property that is located within 200 feet of property affected by the change or to the person who renders the property for county taxes.

(f) The notice may be served by depositing it, postage paid and properly addressed, in the United States mail.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 755, Sec. 1, eff. June 16, 1991.