Every other year, the judge of the probate court of each county shall appoint three suitable persons in every militia district in the county who shall be processioners of land for that district until their successors are appointed. In the event the judge of the probate court is unable to find three persons in a militia district to serve as processioners or in the event a processioner disqualifies himself or refuses to serve and the judge of the probate court is unable to find a person to serve in his place in such militia district, the judge of the probate court may appoint a processioner or processioners, as the case may be, from a different militia district. Vacancies may be filled at any time in the same manner as appointments are made. If no processioners are thus appointed, the judge of the probate court shall appoint processioners at any regular term on the application of any landowner. The power to appoint processioners under this Code section is expressly removed from the board of commissioners in each and every county of this state having such a board.