Mitchell is one of a dozen site proposals submitted to the Project Prison Reset committee. The group held its second meeting Tuesday in Springfield and agreed a new facility is needed.
MADC CEO Mike Lauritsen pitched a 160 acre location just south of Mitchell adjacent to the sewage lagoons near the landfill. He says the facility requires 230,000 gallons of water per day and the ability to handle 175,000 gallons of sewage, both which are doable.
Lauritsen says approximately 400 people would staff the facility. “What’s the average salary there…it’s around $54,000,” Lauritsen said. “And so if you land something like this, this would be a $21 to $22 million new of payroll coming into our community, which is really significant.”
Challenges include housing and staffing.
At this point he’s cautiously optimistic but it’s still early in the process.
Lauritsen also pointed out the legislature will have the final say on the project.