PANEL PLUGS PRISONS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

ANNA, Ill. -- The Southernmost Illinois Prison Committee is at work again.

The group, which helped attract attention to Tamms for a super maximum prison more than three years ago, hopes to attract interest in Southern Illinois for another prison, or maybe two.

Illinois already has approved money to fund a $69 million medium-security adult prison and a $42 million juvenile prison.

"We'd like to see one or both of these facilities in Southern Illinois," said Jerry Reppert, an Anna businessman and president of the Southern Illinois Prison Committee.

Reppert delivered the group's proposals to Springfield recently. The proposals include six sites in the five-county area of Alexander, Union, Massac, Pulaski and Johnson counties.

One of the proposed sites is north of Thebes between new Route 3, which runs along the Mississippi River, and old Route 3.

"We want to emphasize our support for all sites until final sites are made," said Reppert. "It's up to the Department of Corrections now. All applications are in."

A total of 20 areas in the state have entered the Illinois state prison sweepstakes, including Murphysboro in Jackson County and areas in Williamson and Saline counties.

Two of the sites are in Alexander County: north of Thebes on property near the Mississippi River and at Cairo, near the levee on property owned by the Missouri Pacific Railroads. Railroad officials and property owners have indicated they would consider sale of the property for the projects.

Owners of six of the seven sites available in the five-country area would entertain thoughts of either of the prison projects.

"One site in Union County favors only the juvenile center due to the amount of property needed," said Reppert.

The Department of Corrections calls for 125 acres for the medium-security prison, which would house 1,800 inmates and employ about 450 full-time workers. Only 100 acres is needed for the juvenile facility, which would house about 400 youths and employ about 280 people.

State officials want both prisons opened by 1999.

The prison sites must be outside a flood plain, said the Department of Corrections. The land should be flat and preferably near a highway, airport, hospital and other prisons.

Sites available in the Southern Illinois Prison Committee proposal are:

-- Johnson County, on property owned by the Department of Corrections near the Vienna and Shawnee corrections facilities.

-- Massac County, in the Industrial Park at Metropolis.

-- Pulaski County, near Interstate 57 halfway between Ullin and Pulaski.

-- Union County, on surplus property of Choate Mental Health Center.

-- Alexander County, on one site north of Thebes and another at Cairo.

The next steps are up to the Department of Corrections, said Reppert.

The list is expected to be narrowed to three to five sites by the end of May. Hearings then will be conducted at the remaining sites, and corrections officials will revisit the sites before announcement of the final contenders.

"We want to know where we are wanted," said Nic Howell, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections. "We want to know not only who wants the prison in that community, but we want to know who doesn't want it and what the sentiments are."