1. The county medical examiner may appoint, with the approval of the governing body of the county and subject to such terms and conditions and at such rates of compensation as the governing body of the county may prescribe, assistant county medical examiners and such other professional or technical personnel, clerks and other employees as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 58.010, 58.020, 58.060, 58.090, 58.160, 58.375, 58.451, 58.455 and 58.700 to 58.765 in that county.

2. Assistant county medical examiners shall have the same qualifications as the county medical examiner and may perform all duties of the county medical examiner during his absence.