The Quad-City Times - News, Sports and more from the Quad Cities region or Iowa and Illinois

You are not logged in.
Login

Log in to qctimes.com
Email:
Password:
Remember my information.
Register
Quadsville
Site Help

Illinois governor's flip-flop on Pontiac draws skepticism

Font Size:

By Kurt Erickson | Wednesday, June 25, 2008 8:13 PM CDT | () comments

SPRINGFIELD — Pontiac-area officials reacted skeptically Wednesday to news that Gov. Rod Blagojevich may be backing off his plan to close Pontiac’s maximum-security prison.

“It put a smile on my face. But, I’ll believe it when I see it,” Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy said.

The governor announced in May he wants to close the 130-year-old prison and transfer the inmates to a newer, unused facility in Thomson north of the Quad-Cities.

But, on Tuesday, the governor did not include the prison in a lengthy list of cuts he’s proposing to make in order to balance the state’s budget.

On Wednesday, Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman Derek Schnapp acknowledged Pontiac, at least for the time being, is not in the financial cross-hairs.

“We are not planning on closing Pontiac at this time,” Schnapp said.

Because the state’s budget situation remains fluid, McCoy and state Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, say they are continuing to plan for an Aug. 12 public meeting at Pontiac Township High School, which is part of a state-mandated process when government facilities are closed or moved.

Rutherford has been touring the state in recent days calling for a moratorium on prison closings. He and state Sen. Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, want to create a special panel to review prison closings in order to remove politics from the process.

Kurt Erickson can be contacted at (217) 789-0865 or kurt.erickson@lee.net.