HORTONIA, WI (WTAQ) – Some homeowners in Outagamie County are voicing their concerns about a proposed location for a new juvenile correctional facility.
The proposition comes after the state announced plans to open five youth prisons to replace the controversial Lincoln Hills facility.
One recommended site is in the town of Hortonia near Highway 15 and US 45.
Nearby resident Kevin Mckeever is less than enthused about the idea.
“There’s got to be better suitable places,’ he says. “I talked to neighbors, they’re against it too.”
One common concern among families with young children is that the juveniles from the facility will escape. McKeever has a six-year-old son and says he’s worried about that possibility.
New London’s Mayor, Gary Henke, doesn’t see the logic in that notion.
“They’re very secure, and the thing is if they do escape, they don’t want to stick around here, they want to go as far as possible,” he says.
Mayor Henke doesn’t believe the facility is only safe, but he also believes it’s good for area commerce.
“I would assume they’ll be purchasing things locally, causing people to move into the area, more homes being sold, more rental properties filling up,” he explains.
Other local politicians agree with his big-picture analysis, but think some upgrades would first be necessary before moving forward.
The Hortonia town chairman, Bob Luedtke, thinks Highway 15 needs to be the target.
“We’ve been trying to get that road resolved for eight years,” he explains.
While some residents, like McKeever, remain unmoved and skeptical about the proposition. For him, the land itself provides a fundamental problem to the idea.
“One, it’s swamp area, its low ground, and stuff, I think they can find better land, better parking,” he says.
Hortonia has been ranked as the no. 3 site behind Union Grove and Milwaukee by the Juvenile Corrections Study Committee.
Locations near schools, family and community resources were generally supported by the panel.
Further study on the town of Winchester, and the Fox Valley region have been recommended by the committee.
Up to $80 million for the facilities has been committed by the state.
