205.770.  Social welfare board created — powers — second class county changing class status — may keep board. — 1.  In any county of the second class in this state there may be created and established by order of the county commission of any such county a board which shall be styled "The Social Welfare Board of the County of ______".

  2.  All powers and duties connected with and incident to the betterment of social and physical causes of dependency, the relief and care of the indigent, and the care of sick dependents, with the exception of the mentally ill and those suffering with contagious, infectious and transmissible diseases shall be exclusively invested in and exercised by the board.

  3.  The board shall have power to receive and expend donations for social welfare purposes and shall have exclusive control over the distribution and expenditure of any public funds set aside and appropriated by such counties and by any city located in any such county for the relief of the temporarily dependent.  The board shall have power to promote the general welfare of the poor within the limits of such counties by social and sanitary reforms, by industrial instruction, by the inculcation of habits of providence and self-dependence, and by the establishment and maintenance of any activities to these ends.  The board shall have power to sue and be sued, complain and defend in all courts, to assume the care of or take, by gift, grant, devise, bequest or otherwise, any money, real estate, personal property, right of property, or other valuable things, and may use, enjoy, control, sell or convey the same for charitable purposes, to have and to use a common seal and alter the same at pleasure.

  4.  The board may make bylaws for its own guidance, rules and regulations for the government of its agents, servants and employees, and for the distribution of the funds under its control.

  5.  If any second class county which has established a social welfare board pursuant to the provisions of this section, subsequently becomes a first class or a third class county, such county may retain its social welfare board and continue to function pursuant to the provisions of sections 205.770 to 205.840.