(a) Under the direction of the commissioners court, an ex officio road commissioner is responsible for the vehicles, tools, and machinery belonging to the county and placed in the commissioner’s control by the court.
(b) Under rules adopted by the commissioners court, an ex officio road commissioner shall direct the:
(1) laying out of new roads;
(2) construction or changing of roads; and
(3) building of bridges.

(c) Subject to authorization by the commissioners court, an ex officio road commissioner may employ persons for positions in the commissioner’s precinct to be paid from the county road and bridge fund.
(d) An ex officio road commissioner may discharge any county employee working in the commissioner’s precinct who is paid from the county road and bridge fund.
(e) An ex officio road commissioner has the duties of a supervisor of public roads as provided by § 251.004.
(f) An ex officio road commissioner shall:
(1) determine the condition of the public roads in the commissioner’s precinct;
(2) determine the character of work to be done on the roads; and
(3) direct the manner of grading, draining, or otherwise improving the roads.
(g) A road overseer shall follow a direction given under Subsection (f)(3).