A. The timber so advertised shall be sold to the highest bidder by the sheriff of the parish where the timber is located, at the time and place mentioned in the advertisement for the consideration of bids. All bids shall be submitted sealed and opened publicly by the sheriff. No bid shall be accepted by the sheriff after the time designated as the time for opening such bids. No bid shall be considered unless accompanied by a cashier's check, certified check, or bank money order in the exact amount of the bid submitted and made payable to the sheriff of the parish in which the sale is conducted. No bid shall be accepted if less than the minimum price established by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, office of forestry. The sheriff conducting the sale shall deliver a proces verbal of the sale to the successful bidder.
B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when the register of the state land office determines that the disposition of timber by the sheriff is not in the best interest of the state, the register of the state land office may conduct a sale by utilizing sealed bids. No bid shall be accepted if less than the minimum price established by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.