PARIS — Oxford County commissioners have approved bids for nine new vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office, county Administrator Scott Cole said.

Sheriff James Theriault and acting Chief Deputy Christopher Wainwright presented bids for two Chevrolet Z-71 1500 Silverado pickup trucks, four Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks and three Dodge Charger sedans, Cole said.

The offer by O’Connor Auto Park in Augusta of $72,000, the second lowest, was accepted for the two Chevrolets. 

Bessey Motor Sales of Paris was awarded the contract for the four Dodge trucks and three sedans for $100,546, also the second lowest offer.

Cole said Theriault and Wainwright reviewed the bids and recommended O’Connor and Bessey. Commissioners Steve Merrill of Norway, Dave Duguay of Byron and Timothy Turner of Buckfield accepted them last week.

Nine vehicles will be traded in.

Six companies submitted bids for the Chevrolets: Frank Galos Chevrolet of Saco at $68,648, O’Connor Auto Park at $72,000, Emerson Chevrolet of Auburn at $72,400, High Chevrolet of Farmington, $73,320, Central Maine Chevy Buick of Waterville at $74,110, and Goodwin Chevrolet Buick of Oxford at $74,400.

Three companies offered to provide the Dodges: Darling’s Chrysler Dodge in Augusta at $95,606, Bessey Motor Sales at $100,546 and Central Maine Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT in Waterville at $174,228.

Cole said eight of the new vehicles will be for patrols and the other for prisoner transports by the jail.

At a March commissioners’ meeting, Wainwright said eight of the 31 department vehicles are in the 130,000 to 140,000 mile range.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net