HORTONIA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Residents of Hortonia have been against a new youth prison there.
Back in March, Governor Tony Evers announced that the state had plans to build there.
Then a group called “Citizens for the Preservation of Hortonia” was formed and held a rally last week, and the residents’ voices now appear to be heard by lawmakers.
The state Assembly voted to delay the closure of Lincoln Hills Thursday by six months, from Jan. 1, 2021 to July 1, 2021, sending it to the Senate.
This coming just as Republicans prepare to pass a budget next week that would strip funding for state-run youth prisons, like the one proposed in Hortonia.
With Joint Finance pulling that money back, I think that sent a loud message to the Department of Corrections that, ‘Hey, you know, you went about this the wrong way; this needs to be done a lot differently in the future, when you’re looking at locations,’” said state Representative Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh.
The town of Hortonia says the state never informed them that the town would be the chosen location to house the new youth prison.
Residents say they never got a heads-up, and after the DOC visited Hortonia at the end of April, it was clear to them they never had a choice, either.
“Secretary Carr of the DOC said to us, ‘No we don’t have plan B, we own the land. We’d love your support but, if we don’t have it, we’re still gonna go ahead and build a facility.’” Manion recalled.
That’s when the Citizens for the Preservation of Hortonia was born.
The committee started a petition, held a rally and let their opposition be known.
Over 700 signatures were on that petition against the prison in Hortonia, and 200 signs the committee had made with “No Prison in Hortonia” written on them, were all quickly picked up by residents and placed on their lawns, in a town of just about 1,000 people.
“The DOC is not just gonna rollover Hortonia and say, ‘This is what we’re going to do; like it or lump it,’” said Manion.
Tim Manion says he believes the people’s voices and opinions should be taken into account, before deciding to build a facility in their area.
A change to Wisconsin Act 185, the bill that passed to close Lincoln Hills, shows lawmakers agree.
“There was an amendment in there, requiring the DOC to actually give a seven-day notification, in the future, to any community that they plan on putting a Type 1 in,” Schraa said.
With the funding for the state youth prison now being obsolete, coupled with the pressure put on from Hortonia, Schraa says he doubts the Hortonia prison will be built.
“With our pushback, it’s unlikely the DOC will continue their efforts to build the new youth prison in Hortonia, which we are very happy to hear,” Manion said.
Dan Mercer, co-chair of the Citizens of the Preservation for Hortonia says the support the town has been shown by local lawmakers was surprising.
“It’s been very refreshing to see that our local elected officials have been so supportive and have really had our back on this,” he said.
Senator Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay has also led efforts, ensuring the voices of Hortonia resident are heard.
He says putting the prison at the Hortonia site would be building it on a floodplain, and would threaten several endangered species.
He also said he hopes the administration doesn’t overlook all these concerns.
