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New prison on track in Legislature
By Steve Dunn/Gate City Managing Editor
“It's all coming together.”
That's how state Sen. Gene Fraise, D-Fort Madison, on Friday described the process of ensuring there is money to build a new prison in Fort Madison.
Although no money has been allocated for the new $130 million to $140 million facility yet, state Rep. Phil Wise, D-Keokuk, told a legislative luncheon audience state Rep. Dennis Cohoon, D-Burlington, has assured him the new prison for Fort Madison “is in good shape.” Cohoon is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
“The infrastructure bill is always one of the last things to go (through the Legislature),” Wise added.
Under the plan approved by the governor and legislative leadership, bonds will be issued to pay for the new prison, which will be built on state-owned land on a hill near the existing facility. Some Republican legislators this session questioned whether a new prison should be built in Fort Madison and whether bonds should be used to pay for the project. Iowa has one of the highest bond ratings of any state in the country, according to Fraise.
If the Legislature appropriates the funding this session, ground for the new prison could be broken as soon as 2010. The new 800-bed facility would open in 2014.
Upgrades also would be made to the women's prison in Mitchellville, which is at 130 percent capacity, Fraise said. Once the improvements are made, all female inmates would go directly to the Mitchellville prison, thus freeing up space at the facilities in Oakdale and Mount Pleasant. Eventually, inmates convicted of sex abuse crimes would be housed at Mount Pleasant.
The new Fort Madison prison could get prisoners from the Anamosa maximum security prison, which is understaffed now, Fraise said.
That's how state Sen. Gene Fraise, D-Fort Madison, on Friday described the process of ensuring there is money to build a new prison in Fort Madison.
Although no money has been allocated for the new $130 million to $140 million facility yet, state Rep. Phil Wise, D-Keokuk, told a legislative luncheon audience state Rep. Dennis Cohoon, D-Burlington, has assured him the new prison for Fort Madison “is in good shape.” Cohoon is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
“The infrastructure bill is always one of the last things to go (through the Legislature),” Wise added.
Under the plan approved by the governor and legislative leadership, bonds will be issued to pay for the new prison, which will be built on state-owned land on a hill near the existing facility. Some Republican legislators this session questioned whether a new prison should be built in Fort Madison and whether bonds should be used to pay for the project. Iowa has one of the highest bond ratings of any state in the country, according to Fraise.
If the Legislature appropriates the funding this session, ground for the new prison could be broken as soon as 2010. The new 800-bed facility would open in 2014.
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The new Fort Madison prison could get prisoners from the Anamosa maximum security prison, which is understaffed now, Fraise said.
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Charles Pergiel wrote on Apr 24, 2008 7:43 PM: