1. The board shall elect by secret ballot one member as chair and one member as vice chair at the first board meeting of each year. The chair may not serve more than two consecutive terms beginning after August 13, 1988. The chair shall preside over meetings of the board and perform such other duties as may be required by action of the board. The vice chair shall perform the duties of the chair in the absence of the latter or upon the chair’s inability or refusal to act.

2. The board shall appoint a full-time executive director, who shall not be compensated for any other duties under the state highways and transportation commission. The executive director shall have charge of the offices and records and shall hire such employees that the executive director deems necessary subject to the direction of the board. The executive director and all other employees of the system shall be members of the system and the board shall make contributions to provide the insurance benefits available pursuant to section 104.270 on the same basis as provided for other state employees pursuant to the provisions of section 104.515, and also shall make contributions to provide the retirement benefits on the same basis as provided for other employees pursuant to the provisions of sections 104.090 to 104.260. The executive director is authorized to execute all documents including contracts necessary to carry out any and all actions of the board.

3. Any summons or other writ issued by the courts of the state shall be served upon the executive director or, in the executive director’s absence, on the assistant director.