The county court or board of county commissioners of each county in this state, not having more than 300,000 inhabitants, shall advertise for bids for boarding of prisoners confined in the county local correctional facilities of the county, and may award the contract for boarding them to the lowest responsible bidder. If any responsible bidder, other than the sheriff, receives the contract from the county for the boarding of prisoners, such bidder shall receive compensation for boarding such prisoners rather than the sheriff, and the sheriff shall afford to such bidder all facilities for carrying out the county’s contract for boarding prisoners. [Amended by 1973 c.740 § 12]