The county commissioners may purchase equipment for the preparation of road material and the construction and maintenance of roads as the county commissioners deem necessary and pay for the equipment out of the general funds of the county. Equipment may be rented by the county commissioners to any of the municipal corporations within the county applying for equipment rental, under regulations and at rentals as the county commissioners shall prescribe and fix. All equipment purchased under the provisions of this section shall be operated only by persons employed for that purpose by and under the direct supervision of the county commissioners.
16 Pa.C.S. § 16970