(a) The county mayor of any county that has adopted this part shall appoint, with the approval of the county legislative body or other governing body, a purchasing agent who shall be a county employee.

(b) A purchasing agent shall be qualified by training and experience to perform the purchasing agent's duties in a proficient manner and in accordance with generally recognized principles of governmental purchasing and in accordance with this part.

(c)

(1) Before assuming the purchasing agent's duties, a purchasing agent shall execute a corporate surety bond, the amount of which shall be established by the county mayor at not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

(2) The bond shall be prepared in accordance with title 8, chapter 19, approved by the county legislative body, recorded in the office of the county register of deeds and transmitted to the office of the county clerk for safekeeping.

(3) The premium for such bond shall be paid from the county general fund.

(d) The compensation of the purchasing agent, which shall not be in excess of compensation allowed county officials in accordance with §§ 8-24-101 and 8-24-102, shall be set annually by the county legislative body or other governing body; and the amount of such compensation, the compensation of such clerks and assistants as may be needed, and the other necessary expenses of this office shall be provided for by annual appropriation made by the county legislative body or other governing body from the county general fund.

(e) The purchasing agent has the power, in accordance with such regulations as may be established by the county mayor, to appoint and remove the purchasing agent's assistants, to prescribe their duties, and to fix their salaries within the limits of the annual appropriation made therefor.