The owner or person in possession of any real estate offered for sale for assessments thereon may designate in writing to the county treasurer by whom the sale is to be made and prior to the sale, what portion of the property he or she wishes sold, if less than the whole, but if the owner or possessor does not, then the treasurer may designate it and the person who will take the least quantity of the land or in case an undivided interest is assessed then the smallest portion of the interest, and pay the assessment, interest, and cost due including one dollar to the treasurer for a duplicate of the certificate of sale, is the purchaser. The treasurer shall account to the district for said one dollar.