WORK UNDER WAY ON SUPER PRISON

TAMMS, Ill. -- Groundwork and sanitary sewer installation work is under way at the site of the new Illinois Super Max Prison, scheduled to open near here in 1997.

"Weather has been a problem recently but we're still within our time frame for a two-year construction period with a 1997 opening," said Dan Duffy of Kenny-M.K.

Kenny Construction Co., and Morrison-Knudson Construction Co. have teamed up to serve as construction managers of the super max prison project.

"We'll be awarding 11 contracts totaling more than $41 million by August 1," said Duffy, project manager.

When completed, the new super max facility will house 500 of the state's most violent inmates, say prison officials.

The prison is expected to cost more than $60 million to build and employ up to 250 people during its two-year construction phase. It is expected to employ 385 people and provide a $17.5 million-a-year payroll when it opens.

"We are doing rough grading now," Duffy said. The site is two miles northeast of Tamms, 18 miles north of Cairo and 20 miles east of Cape Girardeau. "We've had a lot of rain recently -- as much as five inches last weekend."

"Things are really moving along," Tamms Mayor Walter Pang said. "The work camp has opened, and about 200 inmates are there. Some of them have been helping with park cleanup work here."

Construction started in the spring of 1994 on the $7.2 million work camp and was completed in May.

The camp consists of four buildings, totaling more than 55,000 square feet.

The largest of the buildings is the vocational building, which includes the gym, weight rooms and recreation areas. The 91-by-145-foot building is the only two-level structure. The administration building is 81-by-196 feet; the dormitory building is 200-by-60 feet, and the vehicle maintenance structure is 40-by-175 feet.

Pang said a new road that leads from Route 127 to the prison site is about ready for blacktopping. The new road will be 24 feet wide, with 8-foot-wide rock shoulders.

George Welborn is warden for the new prison. Welborn, who has 18 years experience with the Illinois Department of Corrections, served four years as warden at the maximum-security Menard Prison at Chester.

The work camp employs about 90 people.

A special meeting will be held at the Tamms Community Building at 6 p.m. Monday for people interested in security jobs.

Odie Washington, Illinois Department of Corrections, said corrections staff will be available at the meeting to provide information about the application and testing process, and to assist with completion of employment applications.

The meeting is not a job-screening session, noted Washington. However, applications must be completed prior to screening sessions, to be held Aug. 8, 9 and 10 at Shawnee Community College near Ullin.

Starting salary for a correctional officer trainee is about $25,000 a year.

To be hired, job applicants must be Illinois residents, have a valid driver's license and undergo a physical examination. The Department of Corrections will also conduct a criminal background check and a drug test prior to hiring.

Originally 30 communities sought the prison before the list was narrowed to five. Tamms was selected as the site in October 1993.