By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A site selection team for a new 1000-bed prison facility visited Morton and Winlock last week, looking at multiple properties in the two communities, both of which invited the state Department of Corrections to consider them.
“Jobs, that’s what prompted this,” said Pat Hart, a retired Morton business man who helped bring prison officials to the East Lewis County town. “That is what we need, jobs. It’s bad out here; unemployment is pushing 25 percent.”
DOC plans to construct a what it calls a new male reception center in Western Washington. It’s the place offenders go first, to be evaluated for physical, mental health, security and other needs and to determine the particular prison where they will serve their time, according to DOC.
The Washington Corrections Center in Shelton serves that purpose now, but prison authorities want to return it to its original role as a multi-custody prison and increase the number of beds in the system.
At the end of 2010, state prisons housed some 16,000 inmates spread out through 13 facilities, according to DOC.
Prison authorities say the construction of a facility specifically sited and designed for intake management purposes will increase efficiencies and result in lower construction costs as DOC expands to meet expected future capacity needs.
Interested communities had a Jan. 6 deadline to submit their proposals. The team has 16 sites to look over. Proposals came from as far north as Snohomish County, as far west as Raymond and south to Castle Rock. Grand Mound is also among them.
Hart, who toured with the team and others on Tuesday, said they looked at one site off state Route 7 just north of town owned by the state Department of Natural Resources and another owned by Hampton east off of Priest Road.
He thought the visit went well and that Morton would make a good place for the center.
“For one, the city is seriously for it, they want it,” Hart said.
Also, having Morton General Hospital right there is something other communities can’t offer, he said.
And it would be very good for Morton as well, he said, noting it could bring an estimated 300 corrections officer jobs, with their family-wage pay.
On Wednesday, the team visited Winlock to view two properties in the town’s urban growth area and another south off of Knowles Road, according to Mayor Glen Cook.
It’s not so much the jobs that make the center attractive to Cook, as they would be slow in moving into the area, Cook said.
The reception center would be a very good utility customer and could be an anchor in a future industrial park, he said.
The mayor thinks the community has a good shot at getting the Department of Corrections to choose them.
“I have a positive feeling on it,” he said.
Hart said they were told the site selection team was about halfway finished with its touring and hopes to narrow the field to three by the end of March.
The team is looking for 40 to 50 acres available for purchase and development with utilities available or planned and less than a 30 minute drive to Interstate 5 or I-90, as well as nearness to police, fire and emergency services which are willing to respond and within a reasonable distance to a shooting range, according to its criteria.
The state legislature last year approved funding to find a location and for pre-design costs but have not yet approved funds to build the new facility, according to DOC.
Proposals for sites for a new prison came from as far south as Castle Rock and as far north as Snohomish County.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter