HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_2238 (2)William Blackwelder asked if the correctional positions were really the type of jobs Iredell
County needed. He added that the present prison was being closed because it had too many
employees per inmate. He said the current trend for most companies was to cut back on personnel,
and the predicted 400 new jobs might never occur. Blackwelder said that at the present time,
additional jobs were not needed. He said most businesses in Iredell County couldn't find enough
help already. Mr. Blackwelder said Alexander County should be allowed to have the new facility,
and Iredell should use its money on a better project.
Chairman Haire stressed that the state could decide not to lease and to build the prison at the
Hwy. 21 site. She said that if the state chose to do this, that the board of commissioners really
couldn't prevent it from happening.
Commissioner Johnson asked for a clarification on whether the state planned to build or hire
a private firm to construct the facility. (If the latter option was chosen, the state would then lease.)
Representative Mitchell said, "I assure you that the prison will not be built with taxpayer
money." He said the Department of Correction would have the new prison built by another agency.
Mitchell said there were no funds available in the state budget for prison construction.
Commissioner Stewart asked how, if there were no funds appropriated, the state planned to
pay the leasing money.
Mitchell said he was not on the state prison subcommittee; however, funds were appropriated
for the actual housing of inmates.
Commissioner Stewart asked if leasing was a cheaper method.
Mitchell said some state officials were of the opnion it was and some thought it was not.
Commissioner Johnson asked how the state came up with the $400,000 sewer amount.
Diane Prendergast said Wayne Lambert, the City Director for Public Works, had made the
$400,000 estimate.
Johnson asked Prendergast if the sewer line extending to the Hwy. 21 Food Lion Store was
large enough for the project.
Prendergast said it was.
Commissioner Fortner said Ebenezer Elementary School would benefit if the line was
extended. She said the school would need this improvement in the very near future anyway.
Commissioner Stewart asked if the board would still be obligated to the sewer assistance if
the prison was not located in the county. She said the public might perceive that the board was
willing to assist the state but not the school or businesses in the area.
Chairman Haire said she didn't see an obligation. She said Iredell County had never done
that type of assistance before.
William Blackwelder then said, "Would you want to live near a prison?"
Chairman Haire said that as a young girl she had visited the present prison when her uncle
was the superintendent. She said the area had grown and developed through the years and there
many homes and businesses nearby. She added that there would probably be more supervision at
a close- custody unit than at a medium -custody unit.