Pierceton Juvenile Facility Put On Hold
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
PIERCETON -ÊCorrections Corp. of America, Nashville, Tenn., has put the juvenile detention center in Pierceton on the back burner.
And that's news to local officials because the corporation has failed to notify anyone about their plans to cancel the work.
Kosciusko County Administrator Ron Robinson said today, "Two weeks ago I was told they stopped work over there. I called twice down to Nashville and they haven't returned my calls."
Corrections Corp. officials said they instead decided to expand their Southwest Indiana Regional Youth Village in Vincennes.
The company was planning a 32-bed juvenile detention center on 20 acres in an industrial park northeast of U.S. 30 and Ind. 13. The facility would have served 10 northeast Indiana counties.
"I feel like we've done a lot of work for them and they don't have the courtesy to call us," said Robinson.
Pierceton town council president Jerry Kreager said he has not been contacted by the corporation either.
"All I've heard is some rumors and stuff that they have 12 projects going on across the country and they're all on hold," Kreager said.
If the work is indeed canceled, Kreager said, the effect on Pierceton should be minimal.
"The only thing is that we'd lose some tax revenue. It was my understanding that if they came to town, they would hire 100 to 130 people," he said.
Susan Hart, with Corrections Corp. of America, said the project has been put on hold for several reasons, "one of which is the fact that as a company, we have to prioritize." She said many governments across the country want their services but they have limited resources to build them all. With an expansion of the Vincennes facilities, she said, "hopefully, it will continue to meet the needs of that area of the state." She said more beds will be added to the Vincennes facilities.
Hart said the company could return to the Pierceton juvenile center in six months or six years. "It's just not a front burner project for the corporation at this time," she said.
Kosciusko Superior Court I judge and juvenile court judge Duane Huffer said Correction Corp. of America also has not informed him of their plans or given him a call despite his many past dealings and conversations with them.
If the company's plans are indefinitely put on hold, Huffer said, "I'll continue to use St. Joseph juvenile center. It'll cost more than having a center (here)." [[In-content Ad]]
PIERCETON -ÊCorrections Corp. of America, Nashville, Tenn., has put the juvenile detention center in Pierceton on the back burner.
And that's news to local officials because the corporation has failed to notify anyone about their plans to cancel the work.
Kosciusko County Administrator Ron Robinson said today, "Two weeks ago I was told they stopped work over there. I called twice down to Nashville and they haven't returned my calls."
Corrections Corp. officials said they instead decided to expand their Southwest Indiana Regional Youth Village in Vincennes.
The company was planning a 32-bed juvenile detention center on 20 acres in an industrial park northeast of U.S. 30 and Ind. 13. The facility would have served 10 northeast Indiana counties.
"I feel like we've done a lot of work for them and they don't have the courtesy to call us," said Robinson.
Pierceton town council president Jerry Kreager said he has not been contacted by the corporation either.
"All I've heard is some rumors and stuff that they have 12 projects going on across the country and they're all on hold," Kreager said.
If the work is indeed canceled, Kreager said, the effect on Pierceton should be minimal.
"The only thing is that we'd lose some tax revenue. It was my understanding that if they came to town, they would hire 100 to 130 people," he said.
Susan Hart, with Corrections Corp. of America, said the project has been put on hold for several reasons, "one of which is the fact that as a company, we have to prioritize." She said many governments across the country want their services but they have limited resources to build them all. With an expansion of the Vincennes facilities, she said, "hopefully, it will continue to meet the needs of that area of the state." She said more beds will be added to the Vincennes facilities.
Hart said the company could return to the Pierceton juvenile center in six months or six years. "It's just not a front burner project for the corporation at this time," she said.
Kosciusko Superior Court I judge and juvenile court judge Duane Huffer said Correction Corp. of America also has not informed him of their plans or given him a call despite his many past dealings and conversations with them.
If the company's plans are indefinitely put on hold, Huffer said, "I'll continue to use St. Joseph juvenile center. It'll cost more than having a center (here)." [[In-content Ad]]