Detention facility talks continue to dominate meetings

CRETE | The regular board meeting Monday night became another platform for residents to voice concerns about the proposed immigrant detention facility in Crete.

It was the third consecutive board meeting to be dominated by discussions on the topic.

During the public comment portion of the agenda, several of about two dozen residents at the meeting spoke for more than an hour against the proposed facility.

"I want to go on record as being against the building of this facility in our village," resident Michael Anthony said. "Most people I discuss this with do not want it here."

Jerry Calloway, another resident, told the board he had researched Corrections Corporation of America on the Internet and had found many disturbing trends. CCA is the privately owned company that has a contract with the federal government to build detention facilities such as the one proposed in Crete.

"Their track record is pretty bad," Calloway told the board. "There have been many allegations against CCA for abuse and neglect of detainees. There have also been many allegations of improper care."

Calloway also told the board CCA has a very high employee turnover rate, which leads to concerns about proper training of guards.

Village President Michael Einhorn told residents no decisions had been made, and the village board had not signed any contracts or approved any resolutions.

"CCA contacted us and asked if we were interested," Einhorn said. "We told CCA we would be interested in looking into it. That's all. We have made no commitment either way."

Many residents were frustrated with the board for considering the proposal. Einhorn explained it was the board's duty to investigate any business proposal that could generate revenue for the village.

"But we turn many proposals down," Einhorn said. "We do not have a fraction of the information we need to make a decision on this one."

CCA contacted the village in November 2010 to gauge interest. Since then, information has come to the board at a trickle pace.

"The truth is we don't even know if this location is high on their list," Einhorn said.

In unrelated business, the board passed an ordinance to update zoning provisions in the municipal code. The board also passed a resolution allowing the Illinois Department of Transportation to control all work done on state highways within village boundaries.

The village also will buy a new vehicle for the Building Department. Building Inspector Mike Smith will receive a new vehicle after village officials collect information on cost-efficiency.

The village approved a motion to allow the Fire and Police Commission to begin the process of hiring a full-time police officer. The hire would be to replace an officer who recently left the department.