If considered advisable by the state highway commission, the highway commissioners of the townships of this state, and the county highway commissioners in counties working under the county road law, shall meet annually in a road institute, at a time and place as the state highway commission designates. The business which the road institute may perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the institute held in compliance with Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976, being section 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. Public notice of the time, date, and place of a meeting of the road institute shall be given in the manner required by Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976. The delegates to the institute shall consider matters as the state highway commission presents to their attention, and discuss matters of road improvement as may be of special interest to the township and county highway commissioners. A township highway commissioner may collect from his or her township the same per diem as in actual road work, and his or her actual expenses in attending the institute, if reasonable, shall be allowed by the township board and shall be paid by the township. A county highway commissioner may collect from his or her county the same per diem as in actual road work, and his or her actual expenses in attending the institute, if reasonable, shall be allowed by the board or committee, or county auditors who may have the authority in those matters in the county of which he or she is a county highway commissioner, and shall be paid by the county.