LUXEMBURG, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – At least two Kewaunee County communities want to be home to a replacement for Green Bay Correctional Institution.
Luxemburg Village President Ken Tebon says the village has been actively negotiating to purchase land where a new prison could be built.
Algoma is also interested, according to State Rep. David Steffen, a Republican from Howard.
Replacing GBCI is still far from a sure thing.
It received a boost Tuesday night, however, with a budget amendment from the Joint Finance Committee. $5 million would be set aside to purchase land, put in utilities, and gather building proposals.
Governor Tony Evers would need to keep that amendment when he approves the state budget. He did not include any funding for the project in his original budget proposal.
Studies have shown building a new prison would be more cost-effective than fixing the 121-year-old facility in Allouez. According to Steffen, the savings would be $150 million for taxpayers over 20 years.
Tebon tells FOX 11 there’s been heavy interest in the project from Luxemburg since the effort to replace GBCI started three years ago.
“I’ve talked with the village board, I’ve talked with the village people. All the people I’ve talked to, only one person so far said what do we want with a prison in Luxemburg.”
Tebon says the prison could go on one of two sites near the western edge of the village. He says the state is aware of Luxemburg’s interest, as is a private company, which could build the prison.
“I met with the private firms, the companies that build prisons and they have five all over the U.S. They have offered to fly me there and see what their facilities are and everything.”
Steffen has led the charge to replace GBCI. The plan Steffen has pushed calls for a private company to build the prison, with the state running it and perhaps eventually taking ownership.
If it is privately owned, the municipality where its located would receive tax revenue from it.
Steffen tells FOX 11 if the prison is not privately owned, he would push Evers for a provision that would provide the county and municipality where it is located a payment of 50% of the revenue that would be received if it were privately owned.
“The natural site is within about 20 miles of the existing location.”
Steffen says Algoma is interested in being home to GBCI’s replacement but falls outside the likely radius where the prison would be built.
The location decision and whether the prison would be privately or state-owned would be up to Evers and the state departments of administration and corrections.
“Certainly there are ample vacant farmland opportunities that exist within that radius,” said Steffen.
Steffen and Tebon say the focus is now on Evers to see if he’ll support the amendment to get the replacement process started.
“He still has to sign or it doesn’t happen,” said Tebon.
A decision from Evers should come within 30 days, according to Steffen.
Evers has indicated something needs to change at GBCI and that the current facility is inadequate.
GBCI has been about 45 percent over capacity and is number one in the state for assaults on employees.
Studies have shown it is in need of about $200 million in repairs.
