Forcing Taxpayers to Put a Prison In Their Backyard: Really?
Are state agencies "going rogue"?
There are plenty of out of the way places in South Dakota that would be appropriate for a prison, if a new one is really necessary. Why anyone would think it is a good idea to put one in the biggest metropolitan area of the state is a mystery to most of us.
Granted there was an odd situation where the state acquired land in Lincoln County because someone died without an heir. However, there is nothing that keeps the state from selling the land and buying land elsewhere. After all, there is plenty of cheap land in out of the way places all over the state, places where a few people would be impacted, not tens of thousands.
Also, it is curious that the State, including the Department of Corrections Secretary, Kellie Wasko, kept the Lincoln County location quiet until recently. When local residents finally got wind of the location they started to complain. The Lincoln County Commission responded to their constituents and put in restrictions at the county level to keep the prison from connecting to the county water and sewage systems. So the state sued Lincoln County (yes, the state used taxpayer money to sue a body that represents the taxpayers). As far as we know, the taxpayers did not authorize the state to use their money to sue themselves.
It seems like something as significant as a prison, needs to be discussed with the citizens before anything happens. If a large number of citizens don’t want the prison, then the prison needs to go elsewhere. End of discussion.
We’ve heard rumblings that some real estate developers may get burned, because they started construction on housing for prison workers. If the prison doesn’t go in, then they will lose money. While we feel their pain, we have to wonder how they got wind of the location before the residents. And why they started the development process before the approvals were granted. All that sounds a bit fishy.
The legislature is finally addressing the matter. House Bill 1025, is on the docket this legislative session to approve funding for the prison. There will be a lot of pressure for the legislature to force something on the citizens that they do not want.
Let’s hope that the legislature listens to the people and forces the state agencies to go through a transparent process to pick a location.
Rep. Kevin Jensen of District 16 ( maybe in Senate side now) has been all over opposing this move. 1. There is plenty of space available right north of Jameson Annex at the current site if a new Wing is needed. 2. We need to look at every inmate's non-violent offender status and figure out a restitution plan on a case by case basis. Yes, lock up the violent offenders, no question there, but we've got to get creative and figure out ways to restore many that are non-violent offenders that are just being warehoused currently. 3. Also, they've done away with some of the hands on technical programs at the State Pen, so you have that issue, too. Why don't they make deals with Construction companies, et.al that want and NEED labor, so they can get skills as part of early WORK release programs? It can be done, stop the warehouse. We can't build our way out of this and bleed the taxpayer to death.
South Dakota Voices Response: Dewey, thanks for catching the mistake. Change made.
Email comment from DG: "rouge is for cheeks. You want rogue"