1. Any county of the first classification with more than eighty-two thousand but less than eighty-two thousand one hundred inhabitants and any county of the first classification with more than two hundred sixty thousand but fewer than three hundred thousand inhabitants may elect to have the violations of county ordinances adopted pursuant to the authority provided by statute heard and determined by an associate circuit judge of the circuit in which the county is located; provided, however, if such election is made, all violations of that county’s ordinances adopted pursuant to statutory authority shall be heard and determined before an associate circuit judge or judges. Nothing in this subsection shall preclude the transfer or assignment of another judge to hear and determine a case or class of cases when otherwise authorized by provisions of the constitution, law, or court rule.

2. If a county elects to have the violations of its county ordinances heard and determined by an associate circuit judge, the associate circuit judge or judges shall commence hearing and determining such violations six months after the county notifies the presiding judge of the circuit of its election. With the consent of the presiding judge, the associate circuit judge or judges may commence hearing such violations at an earlier date.