Mo. Rev. Stat. § 61.051: Employees, employment and compensation of (certain first class counties).

1. The county highway administrator may employ such technical and professional help and assistants as are necessary for the successful performance of the duties of his office, and may set their compensation within the allocations made for that purpose by the county commission.

2. Payments to other help necessary in the construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repairs of public highways, roads, bridges, and culverts, or necessary in executing surveys, may be either on a monthly or daily basis.