(1) After receiving a petition requesting an operation to increase precipitation, initiate precipitation, or suppress hail and bearing the signatures of at least 50 registered electors of the county, the commissioners of an authority shall, within 15 days after receiving the petition, publish notice of a public hearing on the request at least once in a newspaper of general circulation published within the county and conduct the hearing.
(2) If after the hearing a majority of the commissioners finds that a weather emergency exists requiring such an operation, the authority may proceed with the activities needed to initiate and conduct the requested operation.