In the event of an emergency in which it would be impossible for the commission to employ an engineer, the commission shall employ a competent road supervisor who need not be an engineer, but, when so employed shall have all the duties and authority of the engineer, and be subject to this act. An emergency employment of a competent road supervisor shall not exist longer than necessary to employ a qualified engineer who will accept employment by the commission under the terms of this article. It is the intention of this article to provide that when county roads, bridges, and ferries are to be maintained or constructed in the county, the supervision thereof shall be under a qualified engineer.
Ala. Code § 45-7-130.11 (1975)