Resolution to Support 1100 Bed Prison in Patrick County
March 31, 2008
The Patrick County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution in support of a 1100 Bed State Prison for Patrick County at their meeting on March 31st, 2008.
SUPERVISORS APPROVE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF 1100 STATE BED PRISON FOR PATRICK COUNTY
The Patrick County Board of Supervisors Monday night voted 4-1 to approve a resolution in support of a proposed 1100 bed state prison for Patrick County. Supervisor Crystal Harris abstained from voting saying that she did not know enough about the impact of the state prison on Patrick County to make an educated vote yet. The resolution simply stated "Patrick County strongly desires to be considered by the Commonwealth of Virginia for location of the next state prison facility. Patrick County respectfully urges Senator William Roscoe Reynolds and Delegate Ward Armstrong to seek approval for the location of such a facility in Patrick County in the 2008 Legislative Session".
Peters Creek Supervisor Lock Boyce said that the proposal is for an 1100 bed state prison and that "it would be the most positive thing we have at the moment, the best thing on the horizon for us" Boyce said "we are not going to put it in your back yard, but it means jobs... no just any job, good paying jobs with the state benefit system. This will employ a lot of people here in Patrick County. If we can get this prison on the Patrick Springs water and sewer line, this prison alone may pay for that water and sewer line, so by gosh, I want that thing here", he said. "Your not going to have convicts running through the woods around your house, you won't even see this prison...The state will be pouring money in this county with this prison", Boyce added..
The supervisors noted that Patrick County will be competing with other locations in the state for the proposed prison. A decision on the location for the next state prison is not expected to be made by state officials until sometime next year.
