Citizens seek say in prison
BY JEFFREY HAGE
THE CHIPPEWA HERALD
May 19, 1999
Opponents of a special needs prison at the Northern Center may
be hoping for an act of God.
An act of God, and approval in the state legislature, is all
that stands behind the conversion of Northern Center's Highview
building into a special needs prison , Rep. Larry Balow told the
public at a LaFayette Town Board meeting Monday night.
Balow said a vote on Governor Tommy Thompson's budget is
scheduled for June. In the budget is an allocation of $7 million
for the Highview project.
While approval of the project seems eminent to many, a group of
concerned Chippewa Falls and LaFayette residents called on the
Chippewa Falls City Council to give them a voice in halting any
prison plans.
Chris Gordon of Chippewa Falls asked the city council to pass a
resolution opposing the prison. At the very least, she asked the
city to call a referendum seeking public input on the issue.
Chippewa Falls Mayor Virginia Smith said the council was in no
position to offer any opinion on the prison because of a lack of
information on the matter. Smith also said the city has a lack of
information regarding public sentiment on the issue.
"I can't say that the community does or doesn't want a prison,"
Smith said. Members of the council had the same opinion.
However, the council did pass a resolution asking the state to
present it with its specific plans for the Highview site.
Gordon presented a series of petitions which she said showed
that the public opposed such a prison.
Over a six day period 180 signatures were collected from
Chippewa Falls residents opposing the prison. Another 200
signatures were collected from LaFayette while 144 Chippewa Falls
Middle School students signed petitions, Gordon said.
Gordon said many of the residents signing the petitions are
concerned that a prison will damage the positive image of
Chippewa Falls and hurt the industry and technology base of the
city.
Petitioners are also concerned that once a prison begins
operation in Chippewa Falls the state will expand the operation
without public input, she said.
"Northern Center could be used in a more positive manner,"
Gordon said.
In supporting the idea of a referendum on the prison issue, Matt
Lucas of Chippewa Falls said that Chippewa Falls has always been
a city that is good to its neighbors.
"Let the neighbors say what they want," Lucas said. "If they
want to build a prison and this is the best place, let the
neighbors have a say."
Chippewa Falls residents did have a say in whether a prison
moved to Chippewa Falls two years ago.
In 1997 voters defeated a measure to build a SuperMax prison in
the city.
The mayor said she believes Gov. Tommy Thompson will not force a
prison on a community, she said.
"I take the governor at his word because there are a lot of
communities who want these things," Smith said.
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