That in any civil litigation wherein the county may be either plaintiff or defendant, if the county attorney or his deputies are interested directly or indirectly, or if the board of county commissioners believes that the time at the disposal of the county attorney’s office is insufficient to give proper attention to such litigation or if for any other reason the board of county commissioners deems it necessary for the protection of the public interests, it may employ special counsel for such case or cases and pay reasonable compensation therefor, not exceeding the sum of three thousand dollars in any one year.