After turning down a request last week by Lawrence County Judge Dale Freeman to seek the construction of a 1,000-bed state prison near Walnut Ridge, justices of the peace will take a second look at the proposal Tuesday.
Five of the nine Quorum Court members voted against Freeman's request Aug. 11 to submit an application with the Arkansas Department of Correction to place the prison in Lawrence County.
The department has asked communities to submit "expressions of interest" to donate property for a $100 million prison. The prison, with an annual operating budget of $38 million, would create more than 250 jobs, department officials said.
Freeman discussed the application proposal with the justices of the peace last week for the first time, saying the unit would create an economic boon for the area.
"We've lost factories, and we've lost tax revenues," Freeman said Friday. "They told us starting salaries would be $12.50 and up. It will bring jobs to this area. Construction of a $100 million prison in Lawrence County is nothing to sneeze at."
Freeman said a new prison could generate $15 million per year for the county in salaries and in sales of food, gasoline and other items to prison personnel.
Justice of the Peace Lloyd Clark was one of the Quorum Court members who originally voted to allow Freeman to make the application.
"We've struggled for years to attract industry," he said. "Here's something dangling jobs right in front of us. Why wouldn't we vote for this?"
Those opposing the measure said they were most concerned about security and about the potential for escapes.
Freeman originally sought land near Williams Baptist College to the north of Walnut Ridge because of the nearby Walnut Ridge airport, as one of the stipulations for a new prison is proximity to an airport.
The county judge said college officials balked at the suggestion, however.
Now, Freeman is offering 400 acres near Portia -- if justices of the peace change their minds.
"We really only need one vote to change," he said. "I think we've got that solved."
Justice of the Peace Alex Latham, a former Lawrence County judge, said he voted against Freeman's request because he didn't have enough information last week.
"We were looking at this for the first time Monday," he said, referring to the Aug. 11 Quorum Court meeting. "Some of the members thought they were talking about the county jail instead of an Arkansas Department of Correction jail. We were short of information. That's why there was so much apprehension about it."
Latham said he also was concerned about security but has since learned more about the prison proposal.
"It may sound good, but we need to make sure it's right for our community," he said.
Department of Correction spokesman Shea Wilson said communities have until Oct. 24 to submit "expressions of interest." She hadn't received any formal paperwork as of Friday afternoon but said officials in Mena, Camden and Magnolia have expressed interest in the proposed prison.
The state is proposing to build a new prison because of overcrowding in its 19 state units, which include four work-release centers. State prisons house 17,609 inmates -- an increase in population of more than 17 percent from 2012-13, attributed largely to changes in parole violation regulations.
Of those 17,609 prisoners, 2,213 are currently held in county jails.
State legislators will meet in January to decide if the funds for a new prison should be allocated.
Freeman said the Lawrence County jail typically is near capacity because it houses state prisoners.
"We may see if they can keep county prisoners in a wing if they build here," Freeman said.
Latham suggested officials also hold meetings to inform the public about the proposal before justices of the peace vote again.
"There are so many things to consider," he said. "I'm keeping an open mind about it.
"We aren't guaranteed to get it if we apply. This is just an opportunity we need to look at closely."
State Desk on 08/18/2014