Going Once . . . Going Twice . . . Sold?

State of Illinois sets auction for Thomson prison

Tom Kocal

On Wednesday morning, Dec. 8, 2010, Representative Jim Sacia (R-89, Pecatonica) confirmed what The Prairie Advocate called “A Good Sign” (see front page, 12/8/10 issue).

“The state of Illinois will publicly auction off the Thomson Correctional Center on Tuesday, December 21, 2010, at the Belandic Building in downtown Chicago, at 10:00 a.m.,” Sacia reported.

“I know what you’re thinking . . . you’re chuckling just like I did,” Sacia remarked. “But it is protocol when property has been deemed ‘surplus’. The minimum bid will be set at $220 million - that is the average determined by the three appraisals conducted last summer.”

The governor’s office reported that congress is currently working to secure federal funds for the purchase in the final days of the lame-duck session, according to a report in the Pantagraph.com.

It’s been over a year since President Barack Obama ordered the purchase of the state-owned, “surplus property,” prison in Thomson, Carroll County, about an hour’s drive northeast of the Quad-Cities.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons wants to buy the vacant prison to ease overcrowding in other parts of the federal prison system. It’s not clear yet whether the money will be approved, but the auction has been scheduled for Dec. 21.

A spokesman in the governor’s office confirmed to Rep. Sacia that the state will continue taking the statutory steps to sell the Thomson facility to the federal government.

Officially, the Obama administration has requested $237 million for fiscal year 2011 to purchase, renovate and operate the prison. But, like the rest of the 2011 budget, it’s been stalled in Congress.

According to the Pantagraph.com, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is working to get the money for the sale included in an omnibus spending bill, which Congress could vote on before adjourning later this month.

It’s expected that an omnibus - a large spending package - or a continuing resolution will be approved before the Christmas holiday to continue government operations into the new year. A continuing resolution typically keeps spending levels constant.

“This funding is a high priority for Sen. Durbin, and he is working with other members to see that it gets final approval,” Christina Mulka, a Durbin spokesperson, said.

Spokesperson at the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Traci Billingsley, said that the agency is still interested in purchasing the prison to deal with overcrowding in high-security institutions and it is communicating with the state “regularly and productively.”