PERRYVILLE MAKES BID FOR CORRECTIONAL CENTER

PERRYVILLE -- Perryville is one of more than a dozen communities expected to submit applications for a women's maximum-medium security correctional facility.

"Our proposal is in the mail," said Joan Summers, executive director of the Perry County Industrial Development Authority.

The deadline for applications is today.

"We're expecting from 12 to 15 proposals," said Gail D. Hughes, deputy director of the Missouri Department of Corrections, which is seeking applications for a site within a 75-mile radius of downtown St. Louis. "This expectation is based on calls we have received since we announced the proposed site in September."

The facility, said Hughes, would house from 300 to 500 inmates and would create 200 to 250 jobs.

"We had good response toward the prison proposal during a recently hearing," said Summers. "Between 60 and 70 people attended the hearing, and 10 of them addressed the issue.

"We wanted to hear people on both sides of the issue," said Summers. "We wanted input to see if the community was receptive to such a facility. All 10 people who expressed ideas at the meeting spoke in favor of such a facility."

Public and city support will be an important factor in the state's site decision, said Summers. "The state wants the support of the people, county officials, city officials and others before making any determinations concerning a proposal."

"We pinpointed four possible locations that we feel could be made available to the state," said Summers. The sites were not identified.

The state is seeking a minimum of 120 acres free to the state for the new prison. This would include 40 acres for construction and 60 to 70 acres for a security perimeter. "Utilities must be constructed to the site," said Summers.

Other state criteria, said Hughes, is that the site be within 15 minutes of fire protection and have access to a 24-hour medical center offering medical and psychiatric services. The site must also be within close proximity to hotels and motels that can offer from 50 to 75 rooms, he said.

The state's information did not address the pay scale of jobs that would be created, but a variety of jobs would be available, including jobs in security, office, housekeeping and maintenance.