Whenever the highway engineer of any county is notified by any road overseer, or other reputable person, that any county bridge has been badly damaged by recent floods, or is otherwise in imminent danger of falling in, or is dangerous in any manner to public travel, said highway engineer, with the consent of one or more of the county commissioners, may contract with some bridge contractor, or other competent person, and have said bridge repaired forthwith, and the county commission, at the next term thereof, shall allow a reasonable compensation for such repair, not to exceed the reasonable cost thereof, plus ten percent.