A task force looking to craft a proposal for a new men’s prison will weigh the pros and cons of 11 East River locations at its next meeting.
After the task force’s April meeting, the state sent out requests for proposal in various communities.
Huron, Aberdeen, Mitchell and Grant County have all submitted proposals where a men’s prison could be located. There are also five proposed sites in the Sioux Falls area, including the former Sioux Falls Citibank campus.
Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, chair of the Project Prison Reset task force, said the number of proposals makes the 22-member task force’s job more complicated, but that’s a good thing.
“Of course, it’s not lost on me that there could be local opposition to any of these sites. Just because the owner or community is offering it up doesn’t mean there won’t be opposition to others," Venhuizen said. "It’s hardly the last word on the subject, but it’s a promising step.”
The Rhoden Administration is convening the task for and looking at these proposed sites after a proposed 1,500-bed facility in Lincoln County caused an uproar and lacked support in the Legislature.
The task force is also waiting for a report by an architecture firm, which will update the state’s incarceration projections, future prison needs and make recommendations about what type of facilities the state needs to consider for a new facility.
A prior report recommended the state build its new men’s prison in the vicinity of Sioux Falls. That’s due to workforce availability and community services.
“If we go to another area of the state, you’re starting over finding a workforce in an area that has less population to draw from," Venhuizen said. "That’s not to say it’s not possible, but it’s certainly a factor that we have to consider.”
The task force is touring the Mike Durfee prison in Springfield on Tuesday.
In addition to the meeting this week, the task force is meeting on June 3 and July 8. Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on a recommendation during a special session on July 22.
