The Hempstead County Quorum Court held their March meeting Thursday.  Following the prayer, pledge, and approval of the minutes, the meeting moved the topic of a possible prison being located in Hempstead County.  Hempstead County Judge Jerry Crane explained the protocol to those who wished to address the JP’s.

First to speak was Cathy Woll, who presented a petition to the Quorum Court from the community of Blevins against the prison. Woll stated that only the benefits of a prison had been presented to them and not how prisons affect adjacent communities. She raised concerns about the proposed prison bringing crime and drugs to the community.  Woll also suggested that a prison quietly drags a town down and illustrated her concerns with some figures.

Next to speak was Hannah Humphrey, who spoke about the dehumanizing that takes place within prisons among both the workers and the prisoners. Humphrey also said utilities were often strained as a result and needed to be expanded and law enforcement was forced to expand as well. She stated many prisons began shutting down because they couldn’t function. She stated, “We can do better in how we choose to grow”.

The third speaker was Emily Wood who asked why the community hadn’t been immediately notified the prison was being considered. She asked how the land would be purchased and stated Governor Sarah Sanders had said the prison would have a budget of $31 million dollars a year. She asked where the money would come from. She also expressed the concern of the second type of prison, one that focused on work release programs for prisoners which could potentially take away jobs from community members.

The fourth speaker from Blevins stated he would not be as eloquent as the preceding speakers.  He stated the group needs some answers and spoke as a concerned citizen. His first concern was the amount of water the facility would require, stating Prescott could not supply it and for that reason Prescott couldn’t have a prison. The second concern was the waste water produced by the facility and was concerned because he owns adjoining properties to the proposed site.  His third concern was the potential of increased taxes.

Steve Harris from the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation was given a chance to address the concerns voiced by the speakers. He stated he followed the Department of Corrections recommendations for the larger prison and at the same time asked for their recommendations for the smaller one. Harris noted there had been four proposals from the state – the first being 440 acres – co-location of both maximum security and work release. He said this was what Malvern had and he visited that facility last week.

Harris stated there were two sites being considered in Hempstead County – one in Blevins and the other next to the City Landfill. He responded to concerns that not many of the jobs in prisons went to local residents citing a prison in California where it started at 20% and went up to 40%. He noted concerning the workers at Tyson,  48% live in Hempstead County. He stated workers either live here and commute elsewhere or live elsewhere and commute here.

In response to being asked why Hempstead County might need a prison, Harris stated Hope was manufacturing dependent and needed to diversify. He said prisons had been referred to as a “recession-proof industry”. Harris stated there were only 2 escapes in 18 years in Newport ADC facility and no escapes in Malvern.

An audience member asked how the economy can be grown when employers can’t get workers.  The speaker believes the area doesn’t have the potential workers to fill the jobs.  The speaker also alleged other companies had tried to come in in the past with Campbell’s  Soup being one of them.

Quorum court member David Clayton responded to this stating that he was not totally sold on the idea but the companies being talked about were not all reality.  He stated that one company had a very specific idea of what they wanted and that some of the referenced companies were not serious prospects.  Clayton gave reasons why companies wouldn’t come to Hempstead County such as the schools being poor. He indicated the JP’s do hear the concerns.

Clayton was asked what is being done to address these issues and responded it wasn’t his job to make everyone happy but he wanted people to love the county as he did.

Harris responded to the question of wastewater saying the state would build the prison. He was asked why his organization submitted a proposal for the prison without being able to address these questions.   One of the community members stated she wouldn’t sell her land and the county would have to take it.  She questioned what sort of inheritance she would leave.

The concern was mentioned about Singleton a potential loss of employees in the Sheriff’s Department and it was asked how much prison guards would make. Harris responded by saying those in Malvern made $22 an hour.

Judge Crane did his best to maintain order, addressing concerns of the community and to direct the conversation and who spoke. He indicated the county will need to do more research to address some of the concerns.

Audience members asked about timelines on public comment and questions.  Another audience member spoke up about Apache Junction Arizona as a personal eyewitness of the drugs, motor gangs and illegal immigration that resulted from a prison in the community.

It was stated the EDC is planning a community meeting the public will be welcome to attend.

One of the JP’s noted the length of time it took to acquire the new courthouse and noted the community was involved and the county has a wonderful new courthouse.  She state the Court wants the community to be involved.

JP Ed Darling spoke, noting he had been a member of the EDC Board for the past year and there had been 14 requests with only two making it to the final cut. He gave reasons why companies hadn’t come to Hope with the most recent prospect not liking the blackland soil.  Darling stated he had learned more about prisons in the last two years than he ever wanted to know. It was suggested the numbers don’t add up with the state’s proposal for a prison, education, and tax cuts.

Court member James Griffin stated he serviced chickens and talked about his ties to the community of Blevins.  He said his high school was consolidated. Griffin stated that there was a prisoner backlog of 2000 and that this proposed prison would only take care of 1000.

Judge Crane ended the meeting by saying he cared about the community of Blevins. After a prayer the meeting adjourned.