By Justin Bates
Times Record
FORT SMITH, Ark. — In what has been described as an issue causing much division, Polk County officials have declined to submit a proposal to draw a new $100 million state-funded maximum security prison to the county.
County Judge Brandon Ellison acknowledged the opportunity could be a benefit to the region, but said based on the amount of incentives the county would have to contribute, the county could not present a competitive offer.
Last week, Arkansas Department of Correction public information officer Shea Wilson and Mike Carraway, ADC assistant director, attended a forum hosted by state Rep. Nate Bell, R-Mena, in Mena and informed the public of the state requirements for the project and fielded questions from the concerned public.
Ellison said while the meeting was informative, he feels the proposal wouldn’t be a good fit for the county.
“I have discovered that several million dollars will need to be pledged by our local governments for us to even prepare a competitive proposal,” he stated in a news release. “Because this is an important economic opportunity for us, I have spent a great deal of time researching other current rural prison communities and talked with city mayors in our county. I also have had conversations with some of the decision-makers with the Arkansas Department of Corrections. I have learned that the ADC is expecting some very strong proposals from various parts of the state. When visiting with the ADC, it was made clear that the criteria set forth would be provided by the successful bidder.”
According to information provided by Wilson, the department intends to build a facility to house 1,000 maximum-security inmates.
The prison would generate 250 new jobs that average $12.75 an hour. The facility would have an annual operating budget of about $19 million. It would have the ability to expand to 2,000 beds, thus doubling jobs and operating budget.
While the county could meet some criteria, Ellison pointed to the sewage and land requirements as particular hurdles.
“Sewer plant updates or a new plant large enough to handle the volume could range from a few million, to $25 million, according to officials at our area water and sewer facilities,” he stated in the release.
Ellison said Tuesday that the county has nearby sewage facilities in Mena and Hatfield and smaller facilities in Cove and near the Wickes and Grannis area, but said none of those plants would be prepared to accept the amount of anticipated sewage from the proposed facility without some pricey upgrades or a new plant altogether.
Ellison said because the county likely would not qualify, there is no need to pursue the issue further.
“Whether I’m for or against it isn’t the thing, it’s just been controversial and contentious and I don’t see why we should be dividing the community over it,” he said Tuesday. “I’ve done my homework, but let’s not be divided over something that is just not to be. We certainly appreciate the opportunity, but it’s just not right for us at this time.”
Communities have until Oct. 24 to submit paperwork if they want to host the new prison. The forms from the ADC ask for details on population, workforce education levels and distances to the nearest interstate, major highway and major airport, among other things, The Associated Press has reported.
ADC officials hope to have a firm proposal ready when they go to the Legislature early next year to ask for funding to build the prison.