Ala. Code § 45-55-130.13: Employment of Road Supervisor in Emergency.

In the event an emergency should arise in which it would be impossible for the county commission to employ an engineer as hereinabove provided for, the county commission shall employ a competent road supervisor who need not be an engineer; but when so employed, he or she shall have all the duties and authority of the engineer and be subject to this part. An emergency shall not exist so long as the Director of Transportation can nominate an engineer who will accept employment by the commission under the terms of this part. It is the intention of this part to provide that when county roads are to be maintained or constructed in the county, the supervision thereof shall be under either a county engineer or a road supervisor who is not a member of the county commission.