HARD WORK TO BRING PRISON TO SOUTHERN ILLIOIS PAYS OFF

Ill. Gov. Jim Edgar Monday gave an economic transfusion to Southern Illinois: he announced that the $60 million super maximum security prison would be built at Tamms. The prison will house up to 500 inmates.

The selection of Tamms is a prize for the tiny town of 748, to be sure. But the economic rewards won't stop there; they will ripple throughout Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri. Tamms is located 18 miles north of Cairo and 20 miles west of Cape Girardeau.

Many counties in Southern Illinois have long suffered from double-digit inflation. These are communities and people who need an economic rebirth. Alexander County ranks 139th in the nation in terms of poverty, according to the 1990 census. The area has also been hard hit by severe storms and flooding this past year.

The numbers are staggering.

The prison will employ up to 250 people during its two-year construction. Daily operations will employ 300 people with an annual payroll of $11 million. The state hopes to begin construction next spring.

Economics aside, some people may not be thrilled that some of the nation's most dangerous criminals will be living nearby. We can understand these concerns. But we point to the federal prison in nearby Marion, Ill., which took the place of Alcatraz. It houses the most dangerous criminals in the nation, and most neighbors forget its presence due to the lack of problems. Maximum security prison is just that - maximum security.

Illinois state prisons already operate at Chester and the Rend Lake area. There are also two state correctional centers at Vienna.

Securing the prison was no small task for Tamms. The competition was fierce among 30 communities. Other finalists included Carlinville in Macoupin County, Murphysboro in Jackson County, Pittsfield in Pike County and Vandalia in Fayette County.

A Southern Illinois Prison Committee worked long and tirelessly to secure the prison -- making endless phone calls and contacts, attending meetings, and working up presentations. They lobbied hard and effectively. The committee formed to promote a number of sites in five counties -- Alexander, Pulaski, Johnson, Union and Massac. All committee members deserve much credit, including Jerry Reppert, who helped lead the way to secure the prison. They have the satisfaction of knowing that this prison represents a stable industry that will continue to infuse much needed dollars into Southern Illinois for years to come.

Tamms offered a favorable package to the state that included 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. Other entities helped to sweeten the pie as well. Organized labor has agreed to sign a no-strike clause during the prison construction. Major motels throughout the area agreed to offer discounts to corrections department employees during the construction and during the first year of operations. Plans were also announced to build a 2,000-square-foot recreation facility adjacent to the prison, which would be turned over to the Department of Corrections for personnel use. The incentives are considerable, but the prison will return considerable dollars in local spending.

The governor's decision also underscores the fact that the decision wasn't based on politics. While Southern Illinois suffers high unemployment, it does not have the voter base of the Chicago area. State officials said they'd consider such factors as topography, easements, flood plain, environmental concerns, unemployment, poverty, minority population, number of state employees, roads and medical facilities. They seemed to have followed through on their promise. We congratulate the governor and his staff on an excellent choice.

This new prison represents a real boon for Southern Illinois. Hopefully, this prison will spur an economic turnaround for Alexander County and the entire region. To those who worked so hard to bring the prison to town we say congratulations on a job well done.