§ 98.08 RETENTION OF CONSULTANTS, COUNSEL, AND EXPERTS; REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
   (A)   The county may, upon the recommendation of the Committee, the County State’s Attorney’s Office, the County Health Department, or the Health Services Committee, retain such consultants, attorneys, and/or experts to assist the Health Services Committee and/or the Health Department in evaluating the applications and any and all other information made a part of the record.
   (B)   The Health Department may, but is not required to, in conjunction with other county staff, prepare and submit a report and recommendations in connection with the application, including the applicant’s previous operating experience and past record of convictions or admissions of violations (any subsidiary or parent corporation) in the field of solid waste management, prior to the start of the public hearing on the application. Any such report and recommendation, as well as reports, studies, or exhibits created as part of the preparation of such a report and recommendations, shall be filed with the County Clerk and the Records Depository no later than five days in advance of the initial public hearing on the application.
   (C)   The Health Department, independently or in conjunction with county staff and consultants, may, but is not required to, prepare and submit a final report to the Committee summarizing the public hearing process and comments received during the 30-day public comment period. The final report may provide specific recommendations to the Committee concerning whether the applicant has satisfied the relevant siting criteria, and any special conditions deemed necessary or appropriate. If such a final report is prepared, it shall be filed with the County Clerk and made a part of the records no later than three days prior to the meeting date at which the Committee renders a final recommendation to the County Board regarding the application.
   (D)   A court reporter shall be employed by the Committee and shall be present at any and all meetings of the Committee and at the public hearing and any continuances thereof. The court reporter shall provide the Committee with a certified transcript of the hearing as soon as possible, but not later than 15 days after completion of the public hearing. A secretary may be employed by the Committee to assist the Hearing Officer during the public hearing process.
(Prior Code, 6 TCC 8-8)