ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — An issue in Allouez that’s been discussed for over a decade may finally be getting some movement.
“The greatest amount of collaboration, conversation and coordination has been occurring in my time as a legislator on this issue,” said State Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard.
Green Bay Correctional Institution is Wisconsin’s second-oldest prison. It has received heavy criticism for its poor conditions and many have called for the facility to be closed.
Early last month, the Wisconsin State Legislature approved $15 million in the state budget to begin planning for GBCI’s closure. However, Governor Tony Evers vetoed a proposed closure date of 2029, saying just circling a date on the calendar is ineffective.
“Fundamentally, look. If you’re looking to lose 10 pounds, the best thing you can do is to start today and cut out the dessert and look to do a little more exercise. Instead of picking some date in the future and writing in your calendar, I will be 10 pounds lighter now,” said State Sen. Jamie Wall, D-Green Bay.
Others local Republican state representatives feel differently.
“The government likes to take twice as long and spend twice as much on seemingly everything down in Madison at the federal level, and deadlines help with some of those things,” said State Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard.
“I still feel like there’s a necessity to have a decommissioning date codified into state law. So, my plan is to put forward a stand-alone bill that will be coming out this fall,” added State Rep. Ben Franklin, R-De Pere.
What might be in the bill?
“It will be 31 December 2029 as a legal decommissioning date for Green Bay Correctional Institution with no authority to extend without explicit legislative authority,” said Franklin.
How would things stay on track?
“The Department of Corrections would need to meet defined milestones to include asset inventory, inmate transfers, staffing transitions, surplus designations, etc.,” said Franklin.
Franklin mentioned June 30, 2027, 2028 or 2029 as proposed closure dates.
Lawmakers know they still have much work to do
“Deeds, not words, matter more in this process. Again, are we creating the extra space in the corrections system that’s going to absorb those inmates who now live in the Allouez prison?” said Wall.
Those deeds will be judged after the legislature’s next session.
Comments