CHARLESTON, Ark. — Residents and local leaders are speaking out after Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced plans to construct a prison in Franklin County.
On Oct. 31, Sanders announced the purchase of over 800 acres in Charleston, which the state intends to build a prison on. In a press release and radio interview, she explained that the project would alleviate the state's prison bed shortage and offer well-paying jobs for hundreds in the community.
The governor called it the "single largest economic investment in the history of Franklin County" during the interview, explaining that the location was chosen for being secluded but also being close enough to areas to form a sizeable workforce. The prison would employ 800 people and hold around 3,000 beds.
However, the announcement has not gone over well with locals who are fearful of what this development could mean for their livelihood.
Residents Speak Out
At Cedar Creek Farm, Crystal Martin and her family have poured their life's work into 40 acres of property for nearly five years. Now, they say that's all about to change as they plan to uproot themselves after hearing the governor's announcement.
When COVID hit, Martin and her family moved out to their slice of the country in Franklin County. But after hearing the prison announcement, first from a local leader on a live stream on Oct. 30 and then from the governor on the radio a day later, she said they've put their home up for sale.
"As soon as the governor confirmed, I reached out to our realtor and said, 'I'm ready. Let's list it. We got to get out of here as soon as we can before it really hits, and we're stuck here,'" Martin recalled.
Martin said she's concerned about safety but also about how the prison could affect the value of her home.
"Immediately I thought, the value of our home now has just plummeted," Martin said. "Nobody wants to buy a house that's this close to the prison or any facility like that."
Martin explained that she expected to live out on her property for the rest of her life and that the news made her emotional.
"I've been crying all day," Martin said. "It's brutal. I thought this was where I was going to be — from here to a nursing home. We call it God's country out here, and they're taking that away."
Martin's parents and other family live just down the road and she said they've considered moving too.
Feeling silenced, Martin said she feels the residents should have been able to vote on it.
"I really think it should've been something we voted on. This is our home; this is our livelihood, and we were just blindsided," Martin said. "We are the ones that voted for the officials, and I feel like we put you there to take care of us. Now, let us have a voice."
Kay Moore, a 13-year Charleston resident, agrees with Martin's sentiments.
"We should be able to vote to not have a prison in our county," Moore said. "I know they have to be somewhere, but they should be where they're wanted and where there's enough people to support them, and that's not here."
During Sanders' radio interview, she said that the people needing to be locked up can either be in the facility or the community. Moore said that's a failure of government, and the governor's hopes of an economic boom and growth in jobs are not going to work out.
"There's not 800 people in Franklin County looking for a job," Moore said. "There are not 800 people unemployed in this town who are going to want to go to work out there. No, there's not going to be an economic boom."
Moore also expressed frustration at what she said was a lack of transparency on Sanders' part.
"How did that happen with no one in the county or in the city knowing about it?" Moore questioned. "It's underhanded, it's not transparent."
The prison's fate now lies in the hands of the Board of Corrections, which will vote on the plans in the future. Charleston Mayor Mike Baumgartner said the board will not vote on the proposed prison site at its next meeting on Monday, Nov. 4.
Moore said she hopes they vote against it, considering the concerns of the residents.
"This is a community. It's a small-town community. It's peaceful. It's quiet. We don't lock our doors in many places. We have no crime. Why do we want to bring that into our area? And it will. It will bring it because people will move here to be close to their families in prisons. It will bring all kinds of people into work. It's not good for a small community," Moore said.
Town Hall Planned
After numerous complaints and increasing public outcry, leaders in the region said they've now organized a town hall to hopefully answer some questions and concerns.
In a Facebook post on Oct. 31, Franklin County Judge Rickey Bowman said that he had been in contact with the governor's office multiple times and was able to get them to schedule a town hall.
Bowman said the event, which will take place on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. in the Charleston High School Gymnasium, will allow concerned residents to voice their concerns.
"I'm looking forward to obtaining more information on the state penitentiary myself," Bowman said. "I hope this will give our concerned citizens a platform to be heard."
Additionally, Mayor Baumgartner released the following statement on Facebook:
"I want to personally address the recent announcement regarding the construction of a state prison 7.5 miles north of Charleston. The only information I was provided was that it will be a 3,000-bed facility and employ 800 people, with an average salary of nearly $50,000 per year. Just like all of you, I was taken by surprise, and I share your concerns regarding safety, and the impact this will have on our community.
If you have questions, or would like to voice your concerns, on Thursday, November 7 at 6:00 PM, Judge Bowman will facilitate a town hall meeting at the Charleston Middle School auditorium. I have been told there will be a representative from the governor’s office there to answer questions."
As your mayor, I’m committed to gathering the facts and ensuring the most positive outcome possible for our town. I’ll be working closely with state and local officials to stay up-to-date and advocate for our needs and priorities. I assure you I am committed to pushing for measures that prioritize community safety and the preservation of the high quality of life we are accustomed to here in Charleston."
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