Published: November 25, 2009 04:01 pm      

Councils, boards show support for prison transfer

THOMSON, Ill. — Federal officials may not have decided if they want Thomson prison to be the new Guantanamo Bay north but most people throughout the area are welcoming the move with open arms.

The Clinton City Council was the latest public body to back the measure. At Tuesday’s meeting, the Committee of the Whole approved writing a letter of support to lawmakers about selling the state-owned prison to the federal government.

The Fulton City Council, the Carroll County Board of Supervisors and the Thomson Village President and Board have also pledged support for the move.

Councils in Savanna, Mount Carroll and Hanover all supported the plan at their meetings Tuesday.

“If Thomson goes federal it will have a tremendous impact on the area,” said First Ward Councilman Bob Soesbe at Tuesday’s meeting.

It’s been 10 days since federal officials toured the near-empty Thomson Correctional Center and based on news reports, interviews with residents, city council actions and polls the general consensus is that area residents favor the possibility of around 3,000 new jobs over the potential security risks of housing fewer than 100 terror detainees and more than 1,000 maximum security inmates.

Despite the regional support, some Republicans have come out against the proposal. U.S. Congressman Mark Kirk has deemed the measure an “unnecessary risk.”

Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna has also hit the issue hard on the campaign trail.

“It appears that Gov. Pat Quinn’s only plan to cut spending and create jobs is free prisoners and bring terrorists to Illinois,” McKenna said in a statement.

A Clinton Herald online poll showed residents support the measure. Out of the 288 people who have voted, 61 percent back the move. Interviews with Thomson residents also indicated the majority of people welcomed a change.

Most Illinois newspapers have also written editorials supporting the plan. The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and the Rockford Register Star all came out in favor of the move.

Thomson prison appears to be the leading contender to host the detainees. U.S. Congressman Bruce Braley said after the tour with federal officials last week that Thomson was on the top of their list.

Harley Lappin, director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, was less committed at a press conference last week.

He said it’s still early in the process and there are a number of options being considered.

Officials in Hardin, Mont., Florence, Colo., and Marion, also have said they would welcome Guantanamo inmates.

There is still no timeline on when an official announcement will be made. Thomson Village President Jerry Hebeler said he remains hopeful Thomson would be selected but is not jumping to any conclusions.

“We’ve been promised so many times and then the roofs fall in,” Hebeler said.

Illinois built the 1,600-cell prison in 2001 for a cost of $140 million. It was never fully opened because of state budget problems and it currently houses about 200 minimum-security inmates.