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10 things to know about a potential state prison site in Davison County
Jun. 4—MITCHELL — Great prisons come with great responsibility.
The Mitchell City Council, during its regular meeting on June 2, unanimously approved a resolution expressing interest in the construction of a state correctional facility in Davison County.
Here are 10 facts and questions discussed about the potential Mitchell prison site.
No. 1: The city's resolution shows interest in the prison, but is non-binding
The resolution was introduced by council member Tim Goldammer on the eve of a Project Prison Reset Task Force meeting to follow on Tuesday in Pierre.
The resolution states that a correctional facility "would create significant economic opportunities, including the creation of stable, well-paying jobs, increased demand for local goods and services, and long-term infrastructure investments."
In addition, the resolution cited interest in collaboration to ensure "public safety and community well-being" from local law enforcement, community leaders, the Davison County Commission and economic development organizations. The resolution also promises "open dialogue, careful planning and engagement with residents to ensure that concerns are heard and solutions are implemented."
No. 2: A final prison decision will be made in July
July 8 is to be the final meeting of the prison search commission, according to Lauritsen.
Lauritsen says a special session of the South Dakota legislature will meet on July 22 in regards to the prison.
No. 3: Wherever is chosen as a prison site will receive a boost in employee spending.
Mitchell Area Development Corporation CEO Mike Lauritsen told the council that a prison will bring an estimated 441 new jobs with an annual payroll of $36.7 million and an average wage between $25 and $30 an hour. The annual operating budget for the new prison is estimated at $55 million per year.
Lauritsen said a prison taking three to four years to build allows time to plan ways to address the state's second lowest unemployment rate, but did not go into specifics.
"We have an opportunity in front of us to grow this community, for our businesses, for our housing developments," Lauritsen said.
No. 4: A third-party ranked Mitchell fourth out of six potential prison sites.
A study from Arizona-based Arrington Watkins Architects put the existing Lincoln County site owned by the South Dakota Department of Corrections as the top option.
According to a
Mitchell Area Development Corporation state prison proposal,
a $2.88 million 160 acre potential prison site is located near the Mitchell Regional Landfill, and is owned by James River Farms. The location is outside of Mitchell city limits in Davison County.
No. 5: According to Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson, those inmates who are from Mitchell will be released to Mitchell.
Hanson addressed concerns about released prison inmates ending up in Mitchell, but did not have any official documents from the state promising that other parolees would not be released in Mitchell.
Rehabilitation, space and counseling is a big expense for the state with a new prison site, according to Hanson, who says that the present state prison is overcapacity
"As far as releasing prisoners, they're going to get paroled back to where they either got arrested originally, where they were tried, or into the larger cities," Hanson said.
No. 6: The potential Mitchell site makes for an escape-friendly location.
Davison County resident and Mitchell business man Scott Studer reminded the council that the South Dakota Department of Corrections wants the prison site to be away from Interstate 90, a highway, and a waterway.
"We just put it at the corner of Jim River, I-90 and Highway 37," he said. "So good luck trying to get them to go for that."
No. 7: Davison County residents are concerned that property taxes may rise.
Davison County resident Michelle Studer said she lives within 2 miles of the proposed Mitchell site.
"You're taking 160 acres out of the tax rolls," Michelle Studer said, "because I'm assuming that the prison is tax exempt. Where's that money going to come from?"
No. 8: Davison County residents are concerned that they don't have a say in denying or approving the potential prison site.
Mitchell resident Dwight Stadler
expressed many concerns, the theme of which is that the prison would increase property taxes in Davison County.
"Davison County voters should have a say on a ballot," Stadler said.
No. 9. The construction itself will cost almost $1 billion, according to Lauritsen.
The $825 million prison built could be placed near another high-cost construction site in Davison County.
To put this in perspective, the High Plains Processing soybean plant south of Mitchell, still under construction, is estimated to cost about $500 million. In comparison to the proposed 160-acre prison site, the soybean plant sits on 148 acres.
10. City leaders acknowledge the prison is a dividing topic.
Hanson and Lauritsen urged residents to not get heated during the night's discussions.
"If we're eliminated (from consideration), we fight (over) nothing. We divide this community for nothing," Lauritsen said.
Lauritsen offered to field any questions and pass them on to the South Dakota Governor's Office.
