All offices and positions of Houston County shall be divided into the exempt service and the classified service.
The classified service shall include all positions in the service of Houston County who are paid out of the general fund and all other funds of Houston County and out of funds of boards and commissions whose employees are placed in the classified service, and which are not specifically placed in the exempt service; provided, however, the personnel board may by resolution, pursuant to a recommendation by the boards, remove any position from the classified service and place it in the exempt service. Unless otherwise specifically provided or clearly implied, this part shall apply only to the classified service.
Ala. Code § 45-35-120.01 (1975)