(a) The court shall hear any exceptions that have been filed. The commission and all affected persons who appeared in the proceedings before the commission are entitled to appear and be heard on the exceptions. The court may permit other parties in interest to appear and be heard for good cause shown.
(b) The court may conduct nonjury hearings and proceedings at any convenient location within the state. Actual expenses incurred by the court outside its judicial district shall be taxed as costs.