By Lauren Waters
Correspondent
ALLOUEZ – The Allouez village board recently passed a motion to invite government officials to tour and discuss the closing of Green Bay Correctional Institution (GBCI), and its efforts paid off.
At the Tuesday, Nov. 5, village board meeting, Village President Jim Rafter said Gov. Tony Evers and the Secretary for Wisconsin Department of Corrections Kevin Carr toured the prison recently and discussed closing the property and making it available for development.
Rafter attended the meeting along with Village Administrator Brad Lange and local planner David Robillard, who created the vision for what the prison site could be.
Robillard has experience in designing and understanding corrections facilities.
“The meeting was constructive,” said Rafter. “We wanted them to know we weren’t just asking to close it, but we had very good reasons and someone very knowledgeable in that industry to help.”
The governor said he understood Allouez is land-locked and is need of generating revenues and wanting to expand, Rafter said.
“The governor said he hears our plea and will definitely take it under consideration, but he sees a much larger problem facing us and that is corrections as a whole,” he said. “He wants fewer prisoners and prisons, and he includes GBCI in that discussion.”
Rafter said the representatives from Allouez brought up the fact while many people support corrections reform for low-level offenses, GBCI should be separated from this issue because it is a maximum-security prison.
“The governor also said that he expects pieces of legislation around corrections reform will be presented to the Legislature in the coming months, and he believes those will have an impact on GBCI,” he said. “But he wouldn’t commit to closing GBCI or supporting that.”
When Rafter asked the governor how Allouez can help in this process, the governor advised the public to get involved.
One upcoming event that Rafter encouraged the public to attend and support will be held by Justice Organization
Sharing Hope & United for Action from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at St. Matthew Church in Allouez.
There will be presentations and testimonies from community members and those involved in corrections reform.
The event is free and open to the public.
“Fingers crossed, but it’s a long road. It’s not a fight, it’s a debate and a discussion,” said Rafter. “A lot of things have to align, because we have a lot of people who have a stake in this.”
Pool safety code amended
Much discussion has taken place in previous meetings over the past few months regarding amending the swimming pool fencing code to allow automatic safety covers – and finally, a resolution was reached.
“The staff has done their homework, and they are suggesting we accept this proposal,” he said. “This specifically speaks to allowing the type of cover over a pool that is lockable and secure, which many other municipalities do allow.”
Rafter said the amended ordinance also states the village encourages multiple layers of protection for public safety, such as both a pool safety cover as well as a fence around the property.
Trustee Jim Genrich moved to approve the motion and Trustee Lynn Green seconded it.
The motion passed 6-1 with trustee Matthew Harris opposed.