Polk County hearing officer explains quasi‑judicial process, oath and written‑order timeline

Jan McDonald, the land use hearing officer appointed by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners, opened the session by explaining procedural rules for quasi‑judicial land use hearings: the county and applicant present evidence, members of the public may comment for the record, testimony is given under oath, and decisions are issued in a written order rather than announced immediately.

McDonald directed speakers to complete and submit forms at the back table if they wished to testify, asked commenters to state their name and address for the record, asked that cell phones be silenced and requested that questions not be shouted from the audience. The clerk administered the oath instructions and explicitly asked interpreters to be sworn if they would translate, and the hearing officer said she would issue written orders within 14 days of the hearing date.