Gary Wolske's letter

Date: Tue, 15 Jun 1999 12:05:34 -0500
From: Gary Wolske
To: (no_cf_prison list)

June 15, 1999

Opposition to Proposed Geriatric Prison at the "Northern Center" in Chippewa Falls, WI

Three reasons cited by proponents to create a geriatric prison at the Northern Center are:

1. Save Jobs,
2. Save money by utilizing the center buildings, and
3. Enhance the overall economic and diversity of the community.

As far as jobs are concerned, the state would be advised to create prison jobs in the many communities which are not economically so lucky as Chippewa is. Displaced workers can either move into the private sector or else transfer within in the state just as the other folks do who have felt the impact of shifting and "downsizing."

The argument that the State would save money by utilizing the buildings in place at the center is also tenuous. The land at the Center is ideally suited for expansion with the rest of the Cray park - particularly in view of its proximity to the railroad for a rail siding. It is not clear as to what the cost of remodeling those buildings and grounds suitable for a prison would be.

Residents are told that this is to be a geriatric prison, but there is no guarantee that the state won't send younger and more dangerous criminals here as the prisons elsewhere overcrowd. We must remember that one bad incident involving an escape or critical situation could wipe out any "savings." One also has to account for the cost associated with the almost for sure increase in social problems and crime if a penal institution is located here.

The high cost of medical facilities for criminals can rapidly offset any savings on utilization of the present structures at the Northern Center. On June 7, 1999 was an article on the Internet in the USA Today paper on the privatization of Geriatric and Hospital Prisons. The article states:

"South Carolina has a contract with Richland Memorial Hospital, which charges $1,048 per day for a bed, plus $288 per day for a respirator and $880 per day for intensive care. Add wages for 24-hour security, and the cost tops $2,000 per day. Just Care will provide the same services for $460 per day."

"States facing prison crowding can get more beds for their buck by putting up a general population prison and leaving it to the private companies to build the more expensive health care jails."

Although the proposed prison is not intended to be private, who know what the future holds. If and when the state decides to privatize the prison due to the high cost of medical care for criminals, what job security and benefits will the people have then? Remember the Great Escape Clause: "Things Have Changed!"

The idea that the prison would enhance the overall economic vitality of the Chippewa area is unsound. Two things that every high profile company is very interested in before considering a move into a community with a new installation are: 1. school systems, and 2. state of the infrastructure including streets, highways, bridges and general ease of access. Corporations considering expansion to our area would look negatively at a penal institution in close proximity to the industrial parks.

Let us take a moment to consider the above with respect to our area. The schools are generally regarded as excellent. Just a short drive around the Menomonie, Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls area will convince anyone that we have a veritable "Golden Triangle" of industrial and business resources. Menomonie is growing by leaps and bounds on the east side toward Eau Claire. Eau Claire has the new North Side Bridge, the New Hutchinson Computer Facility on the West side and many new business being built daily out by the Mega Pic and Sav and Menard's. Eau Claire has the Clairmont area, The Oakwood Mall area, and the College.

Let us reflect momentarily on Chippewa Falls. We have the legacy of Seymour Cray and likes of Don Williams and Dave Hancock in Plastics. We have the industrial park up on the North East side near our beautiful and new St. Joseph's Hospital. We have the Cray Industrial Park down on the river bottoms extending rapidly out to the Wissota Hydro Plant on the south side of the Chippewa River. Much of this new development is on land between the Northern Training Center and the River - once used as farm land by the Center. The property presently occupied by the Center is close to the Wisconsin Central rail line and is ideally suited for industrial expansion associated with the broadening Cray Industrial Park.

As far as the infrastructure of Chippewa Falls is concerned, we need only look at the beautiful new bridges crossing the River in Chippewa above and below the power dam. The railroad bridge of Wisconsin Central was rebuilt last year and the old NW rail bridge was patched after the fire. We are making remarkable progress on the new East side bridge that will connect the two Industrial parks. The ambiance of Irvine Park and Lake Wissota and the overall low crime rate and high ethical and moral values of the citizens make Chippewa Falls a city of which we can all be proud. Our status is the envy of many sizable university cities.

It would be tremendously shortsighted for people of this area with its strong infrastructure and economically strong, prosperous, and socially healthy community to capitulate to the personal motives of those who are concerned primarily over these prison jobs with the state. Remind ourselves too that Eau Claire did not crumble when Uniroyal left. As a matter of fact, Eau Claire is probably better off without it. We must all remember that "Good Politics does not necessarily mean Good Policy."

Ever since the days of the "Super-Max" prison concept here, this has never been a well planned concept. The thought that the state of Wisconsin would allow these ill defined plans for a prison to proceed against opposition and negative aspects for the community does not make sense.