CONTINUED . . . IDOC to Open Thomson Correctional Center

Tony Carton For The Prairie Advocate

That analysis showed both Pontiac and Thomson to be in rural areas and applied a four-county region encompassing LaSalle, Livingston, McLean, and Woodford as the Pontiac primary labor pool against a six-county anticipated pool for Thomson including Carroll, Lee, Ogle, Rock Island, Stephenson, and Whiteside counties. The analysis did not include Jo Daviess County, a contiguous county, but did say that all 540 Thomson staff would live within the studied impact region, ensuring that their incomes would stay within the surrounding community.

The analysis found that the Pontiac surrounding community would lose more than $45 million in annual economic output activity while the community surrounding the Thomson Correctional Center would gain $47.5 in annual economic output activity for as long as the inputs remain constant.

Carroll County waits for relief

Carroll County Board member Juanita Radklev attended the hearing and spoke afterwards about what it all means for the future in Carroll County.

"From an economic standpoint, we so desperately need new businesses," said Radklev. "We need help in so many areas; hotels, restaurants, warehouses, transportation facilities, and more that supports a facility like the one opening in Thomson are desperately needed and as a county we are ready for them to come."

She added that she was sure that the sheer beauty of the area would induce the prison staff to live in Illinois communities and not move across the river to Iowa.

"We have grocery stores, hardware stores, furniture stores, everything a person would need ready and waiting in Carroll County," said Mount Carroll Mayor Carl Bates. "They promised us Thomson would open eight years ago. We've been waiting, but it's gotten ridiculous. It's unfortunate, but that's how it works."

Bates added that while Carroll County needed the long overdue economic boost from the Thomson unit, he felt that it is entirely possible to have both Pontiac and Thomson open.

"I looked at the facilities open in Illinois and I see that Thomson is the most technologically advanced facility in the state," he said. "Why is it still closed? With the economy the way it is, we are already seeing an increase in crime. Four and five dollar a gallon gas, food and housing cost increases, it should not come as a surprise to anyone that more prison beds will be necessary very soon."

Savanna Mayor William Lease echoed Bates remarks.

"I think having both facilities open is workable," Lease said. "I worked in corrections for 20 years. I know things can be worked out. I think if the governor sits down and says lets try to work this out, it will happen."

Lease said the strongest argument he could make for keeping both facilities open is economics, and noted the closing of the last movie theatre in Carroll County earlier this week, the loss of the Savanna Army Depot and the closing of the Savanna railroad yard as examples of the economic disasters faced by his community.

Thomson businessperson Lawrence Bruckner asked the assembly how many of them had ever visited the Thomson facility before outlining the reasons the state located a prison in Carroll County.

"We are the third poorest county in the state, and last year, because of the high percentage of folks over the age of 65, we were the oldest county in the state." Bruckner said. "That's a pretty dire situation."

He went on to say that Illinois spent $140 million building the Thomson Correctional Center.

"That made it the second largest capital budget building in the history of the state," he said. "Only the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago cost more to build. Most people have never seen their $140 million just sitting in Thomson and wasting away."

He added that it is the governor's policy to not open a new prison unless another one closes.

"He wants to spend more money on education and less on corrections," Bruckner said. "I have to agree with his education priority. It stands to reason that if we spend more money on our students, we should have fewer prisoners over the long run."

He said the state would be better off if the governor would run it as a business.

"I'm just talking common sense," Bruckner said.

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