The board of county commissioners may appoint a county administrator, who shall be the administrative head of the county under the direction and supervision of the board and who shall hold office at the pleasure of the board.
In the event that the county administrator is absent from his office by reason of illness, death, vacation, resignation, or removal, the chairman of the board or a qualified person designated by him with the approval of the board shall act as county administrator and perform all duties of such office, until such time as the county administrator returns to his duties or the board appoints a new county administrator to fill the vacancy.
The board shall fix the salary of the county administrator and cause the same to be paid.