(a) Subject to the orders of the commissioners court, a road superintendent has general supervision over the public roads in the road superintendent’s county or precinct and the county inmates working on the roads.
(b) A road superintendent shall:
(1) perform the duties of supervisor imposed on the county commissioners in counties not adopting this subchapter;
(2) direct the laying out, constructing, changing, and repairing of roads and the building of bridges in the road superintendent’s county or precinct, except where otherwise contracted;
(3) take charge of and be responsible for the safekeeping of the tools, machinery, and vehicles placed under the road superintendent’s control by the commissioners court, execute a receipt for an item described by this subdivision, and file the receipt with the county clerk;
(4) ensure that the roads and bridges in the road superintendent’s county or precinct are kept in good repair;
(5) under the direction of the commissioners court, establish and carry out a system of working on, grading, and draining the public roads in the road superintendent’s county or precinct;
(6) employ a sufficient force to enable the road superintendent to do the necessary work in the road superintendent’s county or precinct, giving due regard to the condition of the county road and bridge fund and the work to be done;
(7) buy or hire tools, machinery, and vehicles as directed by the commissioners court;
(8) work on the roads in the manner directed by the commissioners court;
(9) perform any other service required by the commissioners court; and
(10) on leaving office, deliver all money and other property to the person the commissioners court directs.

(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the commissioners court may employ a person to supervise the inmates and direct the work to be done by them.