TAMMS STILL AWAITING WORD ON NEW SUPER-MAX PRISON

ANNA, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois Prison Committee is urging area residents today to contact Gov. Jim Edgar and Howard A. Peters to voice support for a new state super-maximum security prison in the Tamms area of Alexander County.

"We need to keep emphasizing our support until the final site is selected," said Jerry Reppert, spokesman for the group. "It's up them now."

Peters, director of Illinois Department of Corrections, was supposed to make a recommendation to Gov. Edgar Friday, but the governor's schedule delayed the meeting until next week.

"We don't know what day next week," said Reppert. "But, we need to keep reminding both of them that we're here and waiting."

Edgar, who was in Southern Illinois for a ground-breaking ceremony at Southeastern Community College at Harrisburg Friday, indicated he may announce the site Monday.

Peters and other corrections officials wound up a four-day series of hearings during the week on possible sites for the $60 million prison that would house 500 of the state's most violent inmates.

The Tamms site, located about a half-mile northwest of Tamms, is one of five finalists that have emerged from an original list of 32. The prison will provide 300 new jobs.

Other sites that have survived two sessions with state corrections department facilities are: Pittsfield in Pike County, Murphysboro in Jackson County, Carlinville in Macoupin County and Vandalia in Fayette County.

During the first session, held at Rend Lake Community College at Ina, more than 250 area residents were in attendance. During the second meeting with state officials, which followed an inspection of the site, more than 400 people from throughout Southernmost Illinois were on hand.

The committee seeking the prison was founded to help attract correction officials and make them aware of a number of locations in the five-county -- Alexander, Pulaski, Johnson, Union and Massac.

"We submitted five locations to state officials," said Reppert.

The Tamms location offers a minimum of 80 acres, with utilities to be extended to the prison at no cost to the state. Also offered are two years of free water and sewer services.

Major motels throughout the five counties have agreed to offer a 50 percent discount for Corrections Department employees during the construction, and for one-year after the prison is open. Organized labor has agreed to sign a no-strike clause during the prison construction.

Reppert also announced plans to build a 2,000-square-foot recreational facility adjacent to the prison, which would be turned over to the Department of Corrections for its personnel to use.

A number of officials have voiced support for locating the super-max at Tamms, including Tamms Mayor Walter Pang.

"Let's give our younger generation the hope and chance to remain within the community," said Pang. "We are in need of employment."

Besides the 300 full-time jobs the prison offers, about 250 to 300 construction jobs will be available during the construction phases of the facility.

Also pledging support were U.S. Rep. Glenn Poshard (D-Marion), state Rep. David Phelps (D-Eldorado) and state Sen. Jim Rea (D-Christopher).

Corrections spokesman Nic Howell said Peters would recommend only one site. If the director already has a favorite, he is keeping it to himself, Howell said.

Lawrence said no decision has been made on when Peters' recommendation will be publicly released once it is made to Edgar. But he said questions from the governor about any recommendation could delay a final decision.