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" And many won't even be living in Iowa and doing business in Iowa out of anger...it will just be more practical for the families relocated there. Because where in the world are over 300 families going to find housing in a town with a present population of 534? Not everyone can live next door to the prison.

And if I were a politician or a resident of the Thomson area...I'd be very careful what statements I would make at this point. They really need to show some compassion toward the employees of PCC instead of being so happy they are getting an "economic boon" that they forget there are going to be a LOT of hurting families moving to their area. Why cause more tension than there will already be? "

" I too am a guard at the PCC. I too will live in Iowa and do my shopping in Iowa. If my job is moved to Thomson, Illinois, with the exception of my state payroll taxes, will never see another dime from me. I believe it is safe to assume most employees in Thomson will do their business in Iowa. I went to Thomson last month. In Fulton Illinois, which is about 8 miles from Thomson gas was $3.89 per gallon. I could see while sitting in the parking lot, a BP station in Iowa just across the river where the gas was $3.68. Where do you think I went to fill up to make the 3 hour drive back home? In addition I have seen the report. If any of you are dumb enough to buy the numbers in it, I have some ocean front property in Arizona to sell real cheap. "

" Was Thompson built so the State could close a prison, no, so why would the State build a prison they can't afford to run, idiots. "

" I challenge any news agency to take a tour of Pontiac Correctional Center. See for yourself if the facility needs to be dormant. I can guarantee you that their news reporting will come back with favorable results. The report is blowing everything out of proportion regarding the facility's health. To pet the public by saying the extra money can be used to hire more staff is less than the truth. Since the village idiot took office, we have been downsizing to very hazardous levels. There will be no hiring. The governor intends to pocket the money so he can pay for the rising cost of jet fuel. "

" Another consideration to make is transporting future offenders. Pontiac is a go-between for Stateville and Menard, and offenders are transported at Pontiac who receive segregation status. It will take Menard transfers approximately 350 miles to drop off segregation offenders at Thomson when it currently takes 255 miles to drop them off at Pontiac. For Stateville: 134 miles to Thomson compared to 60 miles to Pontiac. And this is one way! How is the village idiot going to explain these expenditures? "

" Inacurate as it may be, the WIU report only takes into account those numbers provided by DOC since DOC/COGFA was the commissioning agent(s) for the study. There is a lot of information that should have been included and will be asked for...such as, the estimated number of school children that will be lost and the state aid lost because of it, as well as the number of estimated homes that will become available in our already down housing market. Watch that bottom line number for Central Illinois skyrocket with just those 2 issues added in! "

" myopinion, you are absolutely correct, and I will be there Aug 12th. Everyone must know that WIU is close to Thomson and will favor that district to get some economic relief. How about we get a second opinion and have ISU do the economic impact study. I will guarantee anyone that their study will be completely different than what WIU had laid out. Its amazing how WIU study stops at the Illinois border. This is by far an inaccurate study. Yet to cover WIU's screw-up, they added this line to the last page of the appendix, "However, as is often the case, other factors exist that should be included to arrive the best outcome for all." Do tell WIU! "

" that's just it rudeawakening, i guarantee WIU was instructed to include only counties within illinois as part of their study to make it look good. if you look at the map they included with the report around thomson, it includes 6 contiguous counties around thomson, but only in illinois. even though the reality is, most of employees are so disgusted with the state of illinois that they will choose to live in iowa. that's why it is so important for people to attend the public hearing on aug 12th to say these types of things. it's your only chance to have a voice. "

" I just reviewed the report IDOC has given to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (go to their site). What a joke. The claim is made that Thomson will receive $47.5 million in revenue while Pontiac will lose MORE than $45 million. I don't see the benefits here. Also, WIU (who did the study) did not explain how many Pontiac CC employees if they were forced to move to Thomson will decide to move to Iowa instead and support their economy. No interview was presented to us correctional officers. I can tell you that I have talked to many and this scenario will become reality if we are forced to transferred there. The whole report is a joke. "

" Cook County Jail is way over capacity. Cook County is paid in over 9 Million dollars a year to house State of Illinois inmates that the state cannot handle in the DOC. Save 9 Million and put into Thomson Prison along with the inmates being housed by Cook County.....Why make Cook County richer? "

" You know if you go on the DOC site and look at the lists of what capacity is at all the prisons and then look at how many prisoners are really in the prisons, if they took all the EXTRA inmates that are over capacity and placed them in Thompson it would be full.
Another thing that is never mentioned is the prison that was to be built in Hopkins Park IL, (east of Kankakee) it was started and stopped abruptly. Now talking about a community that needs a place of employment - Hopkins Park is the bottom of the barrel when it comes to economic status in the state of IL, it is the top of the list in poverty. People do not even have drinking water in their homes. Oprah did a episode about Hopkins Park, and it is truely sad.
Yes, the prison in Thomson would be great economic boost to Thomson and keep it from turning into a ghost town but are we willing to do that in return for causing Pontiac economic disaster. Pontiac is no where near being close to chicago even with the building boom, LOL, which we all know is slowing! "

" It's also ironic that the DOC report does not mention any costs to once again re-fit Thomson to get it ready. How about all the toilets, light fixtures, supplies, plumbing, etc., that has been taken out for use in other facilities. How much will that cost?? DOC won't admit to that, but just ask workers at other state facilities about the pillaging of Thomson that has gone on for years!! I say stop the sweetheart deal of paying Cook County to house DOC inmates and ship them to Thomson. With the federal report on Cook County Jail coming out today, where is DOC's position on that one!!! "

" I also like this....'annualized operating cost of operating older, less efficient, less secure facility - $58.9 million' - 'annualized operating cost of a state-of-the-art, more efficient and safer maximum-security facility at appropriate staffing level - $54.0 million'....!!! I don't think this is a great selling point for the administration. Wouldn't you think that the state-of-the-art facility would have bigger difference in savings?? "

" This whole process and majority of DOC report is bassackwards!! Shouldn't you do the report first then make the decision, as opposed to making the decision then slanting a report to make sure it justifies your decision? That's state government for you. That CDB appendix is an amazing piece of work!! $162,000 for the Warden's Cabin....are you kidding me?? How about the nearly $3,000,000 for the gymnasium and $6 million for the administration building!! Are they building new?? You can bet DOC is going to be floating those numbers around in the press in an attempt to justify their decisions!! "

" to Mrs: that's great that your son is 'excited', i'm glad that he can pick up and move at a moment's notice, but that's not the case for most. my husband works at the prison and i have a career in central illinois, not just a 'job'. i can't just quit my job and move. which means there will be families that will be separated 5 days a week if their spouse is transferred that far away. not to mention trying to sell a house here will be next to impossible. "

" no one is disputing that opening Thomson wouldn't be good for their economy, but the cost is too high. even the last statement of the appendix of the report seems to imply it "the proposal to staff and operate the thomson corr. center is, on face value, a good thing. however, as is often the case, other factors exist that should be included to arrive at the best outcome for all" the report IS slanted, they took into consideration 100% of the increase to population, disposable income, etc.. for thompson, but only 84% of the impact of closing PCC -- saying that is the % of employees living in the counties cited in the report. so, here's 100% of the benefit northwestern illinois will see in revenue, and look how small the impact is, oh, but we hope you don't notice we only took into account 84% of the impact to central illinois. see how great this is for illinois -- What a joke! "

" A campaign has already started at Pontiac that if they'd have to move, it would be to Iowa, and all shopping would be done in IOWA, wal-mart, meds, hosp. etc. would NOT be in Ill. Why not, Ind, and Missouri, Key. have gottnen rich of Ill.
All the stuff in the report that "needs repair" are buildings that aren't even being used/off prison grounds/or would be cheaper to tear down than fix. Even if the prison stayed open, and fully funded, these repairs noted, still wouldn't be fixed. The "wardens cabin" hasen't been used in years and off grounds. The Supt. housing could be torn down, and those living there given housing allowance,
and the program building doesn't need 4 million in repairs. It was built in 1987, East house in 1939, and the Admin. bldg in 1960...only 2 buildings are 1870 and they have been fully tuckpointed and plumbed etc, in the last 10 years....impeach rod...(go Day go) "

" Senator Rutherford, thank you for making all of this possible. Perhaps once the Governor closes the prison, the Committee for Legislative Action can actually do something in Pontiac to employ all the soon to be unemployed. Nice going. Should be a good resume builder. "

" MRS. makes a point....Iowa will see a bigger boon than Thomson, IL and the surrounding area. The closest shopping, restaurants, entertainment, etc. is in Iowa. "

" First, I like to hear the remarks from "Political Heretic" who in past forums kept preaching that this was nothing more than a political gambit for Rutherford. What do you have to say now PH? Are you speechless? I work at the prison and I assure you, if I am transferred to a prison close to another state, I will be moving and into and supporting that other state. I am done with this village idiot of a governor. So Thomson, if you thought my revenue was going to your town, you have another thing coming. "

" Everyone should read this report. It proves that u can slant anything that you want, to your side of the story. Someone should have to explain figures and dollar amounts, for example, projected cost to do maintenance on cottage number three. Cottage number three is a single family bungelow house. It is used for IDOC staff of certain rank to live in. Right now it has sat empty for over two years. The report states projected maintenace on the cottage will be over $300,000 dollars. I would like to meet someone who lives in a 1600 sq.ft. home that spends that much money on upkeep. "

" By all means, letś help out the Iowa economy while destroying Central Illinois. If the crime rate is rising, then the Thompson prison could fill up without closing Pontiac. "

" My son is actually looking forward to the move. We have relatives close by in Iowa that are preparing to help him with child care, they have great schools in Iowa and my son has already been there checking things out like housing, schools,crime rate,shopping and entertainment. Iowa has some very good good entertainment spots. Bad for Pontiac though. The crime will continue to rise. The projections are Pontiac will be closer to Chicago in a few years anyway the way the housing construction is going which means it will be closer to B/N too. I say sorry Pontiac but go for it. "