CONSTRUCTION UNDER WAY ON SUPER MAX PRISON AT TAMMS

TAMMS, Ill. -- Work is progressing on construction of the $60 million, 500-bed, super maximum security prison near here.

"The project is going well," said Mia Jazo, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Corrections Capital Development Board. "Work slowed a bit recently because of weather, but we'll be back at full speed when the weather permits."

Water, sewer and gas lines have been extended to the site and the new access road from Illinois 127, north of Tamms, has been completed.

The prison itself will consist of eight "pods," seven of them for prison cells. Concrete foundations for four of the pods are in place.

More than $55 million for the project is intact. Another $4.5 million will be available in 1997 to put the finishing touches on the prison which is expected to open in November 1997.

The $7.3 million work camp opened at the prison site last summer. The camp, which houses 195 minimum security prisoners, consists of four buildings, totaling more than 55,000 square feet.

The camp currently employs 94 people, said Nic Howell of the Department of Corrections Public Affairs Department. Employees include a variety of workers, from corrections officers to food supervisors and clerical personnel.

When fully operational, the new super max prison will house 500 of the state's most violent inmates. The prison will employ about 385 people and operate on a $17.5 million annual budget.

George Welborn is warden for the new prison. Welborn, who has 18 years experience with the Illinois Department of Corrections, served four years as warden at the maximum-security Menard Prison at Chester.

The largest structure in the work camp is the vocational building, which includes the gym, weight rooms and recreation areas. The 91-by-145-foot building is the only two-level structure. The administration building is 81-by-196 feet; the dormitory building is 200-by-60 feet, and the vehicle maintenance structure is 40-by-175 feet.

Originally, 30 communities sought the prison before the list was narrowed to five. Tamms was selected as the site in October 1993.

Tamms and Union County have each received awards for their parts in obtaining the prison. Tamms received top prize in the "Governor's Home Town Award" program. After Tamms had been selected for the new prison, volunteers helped raise funds to assist with the purchase of the land, utilities expansion and road improvements needed to seal the deal. Tamms' award came in the category of economic development for cities with a population of fewer than 1,700 people.

Union County received the first-place award for economic development, population, 12,000 to 17,999, for its efforts in founding the Union County Economic Development Corp., which was instrumental in helping bring the super max prison to Tamms. The group is now working on other projects to bring in more jobs.

Since the announcement of the new prison and the opening of the work camp, Tamms officials have received a number of inquiries concerning new businesses.

"We have had inquiries concerning a housing development, motels and other businesses," said Walter Pang, Tamms mayor.

Pang is hopeful that a new drugstore will be constructed in the village. Tamms Drug Store, at First and Russell streets was destroyed by fire in December, but the owners have indicated they will rebuild.

A second Southern Illinois city has been selected as site for a new $65 million, 950-cell medium security prison.

Work is expected to start in April, providing up to 250 construction jobs. When completed, in 18 months to two years, the new medium security at Pinckneyville in Perry County, will provide more than 400 jobs.