Pennington County authorizes higher purchase price for prisoner transport bus; sheriff warns of possible tariff

Pennington County commissioners voted March 18 to authorize an amended purchase price of $754,620 for a prisoner transport bus used by the Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Brian Mueller told the board the Commission originally authorized $743,860 for the vehicle in 2023 and that the department added $10,760 for upgraded cameras and equipment to reduce blind spots. Mueller said the bus is built by MCI, a firm with operations in Canada, and the county faces a possible tariff that could add “up to an additional hundred and $88,000” if the vehicle is not delivered before a tariff effective date. He said staff are working to take delivery before the tariff deadline and would return to the Commission if tariffs are assessed.

The board’s motion to amend the purchase price was made by Commissioner Drews and seconded by Commissioner Rosknecht; the motion carried with an affirmative voice vote.

The sheriff’s office said it expects to retain about $770,000 in the fund after the amendment and described plans to declare a current transport bus surplus once a replacement is accepted. Mueller said the department had discussed a government-to-government transfer with Montana State, which had expressed interest in purchasing the existing vehicle for about $100,000; if that sale is not completed the county would pursue sealed bids.

The Commission also discussed the expected service life and replacement cadence for such buses. Sheriff Mueller said recent vehicles have been pushed toward a six- to seven-year rotation based on mileage and reliability concerns for long interstate trips with many inmates.

No further action on tariffs or sale of the old bus was taken beyond authorizing the amended purchase price; the sheriff said he would return to the board if additional costs are imposed.