STATE PRISON-SITE HOPEFULS TO GET ONE LAST PITCH

JEFFERSON CITY -- Local officials from six cities being considered as the site of a new $53 million, 1,200-bed women's prison will be given one more chance to make presentations to the legislature's Joint Committee on Correctional Institutions and Problems.

"What we have here is competition in the marketplace," said Sen. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, chairman of the committee. "We are going to give them each a chance to upgrade their proposals. They will get one last shot."

Of the six sites under consideration, two are in Southeast Missouri -- at Bonne Terre and Fredericktown. Others are at Vandalia, Bowling Green, New Florence and Montgomery City.

Over the last few weeks the committee has toured all six sites.

The final proposals will be heard at a meeting by the committee on March 23 at the state capitol. After that the panel will narrow the list to three sites for Gov. Mel Carnahan and the full General Assembly to consider.

"I'm going to have our recommendation on the governor's desk by the first of April," said Staples. "They are all good proposals and all of the cities have done their homework."

Many believe that final decisions on where a prison is built could be based on the clout of legislators serving on the committee or influence with the governor. For example, the powerful chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Norman Merrell, has the Vandalia site in his district.

On the other hand, the Bonne Terre site is in the district of House Majority Leader Bob Ward. Bonne Terre is also in Staples' 20th District. The site in Madison County was represented by Staples for 10 years until redistricting took effect in 1992. It is now adjacent to his district.

"Madison County is in my geographic area, and so is Bonne Terre, but we will give everyone a fair shot," said Staples. He acknowledged that political influence might be a factor in the final decision, but said the main factor in cutting the list will be the quality of the proposals.

"We are, after all, dealing with taxpayers' money here and we have an obligation to the citizens of Missouri to recommend the best plan," said Staples. He pointed out that building a prison is the same as building a home or any other building in that you analyze needs and then "look for the best possible deal within the dollars you have to spend."

Madison County is now represented in the Senate by Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, and in the House by James Graham, R-Fredericktown. Both accompanied the joint committee on its tour of the Fredericktown and Bonne Terre sites two weeks ago and expressed confidence in the proposal drafted by Fredericktown officials.

During his tenure in the Missouri Senate, Staples has been successful bringing two prisons to his district, a maximum security facility at Potosi and the conversion of the Farmington State Hospital to a prison.

"I honestly don't know whether the legislature will give me a third prison," said Staples.

Besides the new women's prison, the joint committee is also looking at converting a mental health facility at St. Joseph into a 1,000-bed prison and converting the now-closed Tarkio College into a 400-bed "boot camp" facility for youthful offenders.

In all, about $91 million in prison construction and renovation is being proposed in the governor's budget for fiscal year 1995. Funding for those projects, however, are included in a $250 million bond issue Carnahan hopes lawmakers will send to the people. The bond proposal has been approved by the House with only 15 dissenting votes, and if it goes through the Senate voter approval is needed.

But Staples said if voters reject the bond issue, then paying for the projects through general revenue or through a lease-purchase arrangement will have to be considered.

Because of that, Staples stressed the committee will look favorably on proposals that have sound lease-purchase possibilities.

Kinder said Fredericktown's plan provides that in its plan. Said Kinder: "I really believe Fredericktown has the best package on the objective facts, and I hope the committee sees that. It has a sound lease-purchasing option; the flexible financing is one of the attractive aspects of the plan."

Kinder said he is lobbying colleagues on the committee, seeking their support for a prison in his district.

Graham said he believes the Fredericktown site is what the Department of Corrections is looking for.

"Overall, I think they all have a lot of offer, but if they look at our area and what it will do for our jobs and the economy, I think we will fare pretty well," said Graham.

"Twenty years ago no one wanted a prison in their area. Now, everyone is looking for it to boost their local economy. Times change."