(1) The board of county commissioners may assign responsibility for the supervision and direction of all highways, bridges, and causeways within the county to a county surveyor or to a county road superintendent. The board may allocate the duties between the surveyor and the superintendent.
(2) The duties are to:
(a) keep all highways and bridges free and clear of all obstructions;
(b) grade, maintain, and repair all highways;
(c) construct, maintain, and repair all bridges and causeways;
(d) make all surveys;
(e) establish grades;
(f) prepare plans, specifications, and estimates;
(g) keep accurate cost data;
(h) approve all claims against the county for all highway, bridge, and causeway construction, maintenance, and repair, prior to presentation to the board of county commissioners;
(i) employ and assign deputies and staff;
(j) purchase and secure all highway and bridge machinery and machinery equipment and tools to be used upon highways and bridges, with the approval of the board;
(k) purchase and secure all highway, bridge, and causeway supplies and materials, with the approval of the board;
(l) from time to time, make reports and estimates of all matters relating to highways and bridges when required by the board; and
(m) perform other duties required by law.
(3) The surveyor must receive the annual salary provided by law for salaried county surveyors and other county officials.