(a) The board of county commissioners, by resolution, may establish a zoning board for each township within the county. The board shall consist of (1) four members who shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners and who shall be residents of the unincorporated area of the county and (2) the township trustee of each township in the county if the trustee gives written consent to serve on the zoning board. If the trustee fails to give consent to serve on the zoning board, the board of county commissioners shall appoint a resident of such township to serve in the trustee’s place. Any person appointed to serve in a trustee’s place shall hold the position on the zoning board as long as such trustee serves on the township board.

The board of county commissioners, by resolution, may establish a planning commission for the county and shall fix the number of members on the commission. The commission shall consist of not less than nine nor more than 12 members who shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners. Nine of such members shall be residents of the unincorporated area of the county. The planning commission shall consist of one member of each zoning board in the county, as appointed by the board of county commissioners.

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The members first appointed by the board of county commissioners to either a zoning board or the planning commission shall be appointed for terms of one, two and three years. The terms shall be divided equally or as nearly equally as possible among the members. Thereafter members shall be appointed for terms of three years each. All members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the board of county commissioners for the unexpired term. Members shall serve without compensation for their services but may receive such traveling expenses as the board of county commissioners authorizes which shall be paid from any funds available for such purpose.

(b) Each zoning board and the planning commission shall meet at such time and place as they may fix by resolution, with the approval of the board of county commissioners. They shall select one of their number as chairperson and one as vice-chairperson who shall serve one year terms and until their successor has been selected. The board of county commissioners shall employ a secretary for the planning commission and each zoning board. The secretary shall keep a proper record of the proceedings of any such board or commission. Special meetings may be called at any time by the chairperson or in the chairperson’s absence by the vice-chairperson. A majority of any such board or commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Each zoning board and the planning commission shall cause a proper record to be kept of its proceedings.

Each zoning board and the planning commission shall make and adopt, with the approval of the board of county commissioners, rules for the transaction of its business.

The board of county commissioners may employ any employees it deems necessary for the work of any zoning board or the planning commission and may contract with planners and other consultants for such services as it requires and may incur other necessary expenses. The expenditures of county funds for the payment of costs and expenses of the zoning boards and the planning commission shall at no time be in excess of the amounts budgeted and appropriated for that purpose by the board of county commissioners.

Each zoning board and the planning commission shall perform any additional duties that the board of county commissioners prescribes and, in all cases, shall be subject to the jurisdiction and under the control and approval of the board of county commissioners.

(c) The board of county commissioners, by resolution, may appoint one or more consolidated zoning boards for two or more townships, or portions thereof, within the county. Such resolution shall give notice of the date and time of a public hearing to be held on the proposed consolidation and shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in the official county newspaper. The second publication shall be no sooner than 10 days prior to the public hearing. Any consolidated boards shall consist of not less than five nor more than nine members who shall be residents of the townships, or portions thereof, included in the territory which is subject to the consolidated boards’ jurisdiction. Membership in the board shall be determined by the board of county commissioners. The members first appointed by the board of county commissioners shall be appointed for terms of one, two and three years. The terms shall be divided equally or as nearly equally as possible among the members. Thereafter members shall be appointed for terms of three years each. All members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the board of county commissioners for the unexpired term. Members shall serve without compensation for their services, but may receive such traveling expenses as the board of county commissioners authorizes which shall be paid from any funds available for such purpose.

Upon the appointment of any consolidated zoning boards, any separate board which was established for the purpose of recommending rezonings or conditional use permits for any territory included within the territory subject to the jurisdiction of such consolidated boards, shall be dissolved by order of the board of county commissioners. Zoning boards for townships not affected by a resolution creating a consolidated zoning board, or affected only in part by such a resolution, may continue operating as originally established, as determined by the board of county commissioners.

The consolidated zoning boards shall meet, select officers and keep records in the same manner as provided for township zoning boards created under subsection (a) of this section. Such boards shall have the same powers and duties as prescribed for township zoning boards insofar as the same may be made applicable and shall perform any additional duties which the board of county commissioners prescribes and, in all cases, shall be subject to the jurisdiction and under the control and approval of the board of county commissioners.