(a) At any time prior to the hearing date, at the request of the code enforcement officer, the attorney for the county, the respondent, or the attorney for the respondent, the hearing officer assigned to hear the case may issue subpoenas directing witnesses to appear and give testimony at the hearing.
     (b) If the respondent or the respondent’s attorney fails to appear on the date set for the hearing, the hearing officer may find the respondent in default and shall proceed with the hearing and accept evidence relating to the existence of a code violation.