UNION COUNTY KICKS OFF DRIVE FOR PRISON

ANNA, Ill. -- When Jerry Reppert first learned that a new prison was one of four options being studied by the Illinois Task Force on Crime and Corrections to reduce inmate crowding conditions in the state, he acted quickly.

"We had just lost two businesses in Anna which cost us more than 450 jobs with payrolls of over $5 million," said Reppert, publisher of The Gazette-Democrat newspaper at Anna and president of the new Union County Economic Development Corp.

"If the prison facility becomes a reality, we could really use it in our region."

The new super-maximum security level institution will become a reality if the task force's recommendations are followed.

In a final report issued this month, the task force urged Gov. Jim Edgar and the Illinois General Assembly to build the "Super-Max" facility to house dangerous and predatory inmates.

"We're already in the process of obtaining petitions to request the location of the proposed prison in Union County," said Reppert during a meeting Wednesday in Anna. "We already have a couple of pages of names and the promise of many workers who will help obtain other signatures."

Reppert said he wanted to put petitions containing the names of more than 5,000 people on the governor's desk in June.

"We have to have broad-base community support to attract the attention of the Department of Corrections," said Reppert. "We have discussed the proposed prison with a number of people throughout the county, including senior citizens, and have received support in most cases."

People in the area are not strangers to prisons, noted Reppert. "We have a federal maximum security prison at Marion, and state facilities at Chester (Menard Prison) and a minimum security at Vienna in Johnson County.

"We don't have any particulars on deadlines for the proposed new facility," said Reppert. "But, we're ready."

Reppert explained some plans for the facility.

"This would be a real shot in the arm for a community which has lost two of its largest employers," said Reppert. "It will be a $60 million, 500-bed facility, with $20 million annual operational costs."

Reppert and several community leaders voiced their support of a prison facility in the region Wednesday.

"We don't have a time table, but we understand that the task force would like to see the facility funded in September, with work to start in 1994," said Reppert.

Don Denny, director of the Small Business Development Center at Shawnee Community College, said that the prison would be a "tremendous boost not only to Union County, but to the entire Southern Illinois region.

"It would mean 300 jobs once the facility opened," said Denny. "It would also provide a number of jobs in the construction phase. We're getting off to a good start here."

Ken Kohler, Anna's mayor, agrees.

"We have a large number of people present for this meeting," said Kohler. "That's encouraging."

Kohler added that city officials are also talking to a number of businesses that have expressed an interest in locating at Anna.

"We have talked with three or four people who have interests in the old shoe factory building," he said. "That's a building which spreads 72,000 square feet over one level."

Kohler also appealed to the public to provide city officials with ideas.

"We're willing to talk with anyone who can provide leads or open a new business to provide jobs in this area. This is a community project."

Wes Wilkins, Union County state's attorney, reiterated the need for the prison facility.

"A new facility to lessen overcrowding in our state prison is needed," said Wilkins. "Now, we have a challenge in Union County to fight to obtain this facility, and I think we can meet that challenge. In addition to fulfilling the needs for new prisons, we need it here to provide jobs for our children and grandchildren."

John Johnson, president of the Anna-Jonesboro Area Chamber of Commerce, said, "This is an opportunity to get new jobs for the region. If we can get this prison, it will be a great economic boost."

Johnson cited Marion as a prime example.

"Marion has a federal prison," he said. "And, look at how Marion has progressed economically."

Other speakers during the Wednesday session included: Jack Hill, president of Shawnee Community College; Vicki Miller, president American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Mat Paige, circuit county clerk; Teresa Bradley, attorney and spokesperson for the Union County Women in Business.