The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office will be getting a new transport van.

On Tuesday, Oct. 1 the Lincoln County Commissioners gave Chief Deputy Ken Mason the go-ahead to purchase a new minivan for prisoner transport.

Although the Sheriff’s Office received multiple offers, it decided to go with Shepard Auto Group's offer of a 2013 Grand Caravan.

The van will be used to transport inmates to and from Two Bridges Regional Jail.

There were a bevvy of choices, including a $21,000 new van and other vans ranging in price from $16,000 to $19,000.

Ultimately, the Sheriff’s Office decided to go with the cost effective van, a 2013 Chrysler with 28,000 miles on the odometer for $17,195.

But not all commissioners were in favor of the plan. Commissioner Hamilton Meserve said the Sheriff’s Office should consider buying a brand-new vehicle.

“You will be getting a car with 20 to 30,000 fewer miles on it ... that's money in the bank,” he said. “I'm just worried about a new car with 28,000 miles on it in one year.”

Mason said the Sheriff’s Office would prefer to save the $4,000 and purchase a used vehicle, assuming it checks out.

“I'll go and look it over,” he said. “It has to be immaculate otherwise we won't buy it.”

Mason added that newer vehicles can have a lot more miles put on them and the vans the Sheriff’s Office uses typically finish with north of 100,000 miles.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 207-633-4620 or benbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen