Ala. Code § 45-22-130.18
In the event an emergency should arise, in which it would be impossible for the Cullman County governing body to employ an engineer, as hereinabove provided for, then, in that event, the county governing body shall employ a competent road supervisor who need not be an engineer, but, when so employed, and he or she shall have all the duties and authority of the engineer, and be subject to this article, but an emergency shall not exist so long as the Director of Transportation can nominate an engineer who would accept employment by the governing body of Cullman County under the terms of this article, it being the intention of this article to provide that when county roads are to be maintained or constructed in the county, the supervision thereof shall either be under a county engineer, as hereinabove provided for, or a road supervisor, who is not a member of the county governing body.
Ala. Code § 45-22-130.18 (1975)