The Macon County Commission, or any succeeding county governing body, shall appoint and employ a county engineer, who shall be a thoroughly qualified and competent professional engineer and may or may not be a land surveyor. The county engineer shall possess all of the qualifications as specified for county engineers under the general laws of the State of Alabama. The county engineer shall devote his or her entire time and attention to the maintenance and construction of the Macon County public roads, highways, bridges, ferries, and other county engineering projects and, during employment, shall reside in Macon County, Alabama. The county engineer shall serve at the pleasure of the county commission.