The county commissioners or, in the case of a joint-county department of health the joint-county health commission, may acquire real and personal property for the exercise of the powers and duties of the county department of health, and may make contracts incident to the operation of the county department of health.

In the case of a single-county department of health, the acquisition, holding and transfer of property and the making of contracts incident to the operation of the county department of health shall be governed by the laws which may now or hereafter apply to the county generally.

In the case of a joint-county department of health, property for the use of the joint-county department of health shall be acquired and held by the participating counties in common.

Contracts incident to the operation of the joint-county department of health shall be made on behalf of the participating counties by the joint-county health commission. All the participating counties shall be parties to such contracts. The making of contracts shall be governed by the laws which may now or hereafter apply to each of the participating counties. When advertising for bids is required by the laws applicable to any participating county, the procedure for advertising within such county shall be followed as prescribed by such laws. Bids may be received and accepted by the county commissioners of the participating counties meeting as the joint-county health commission.