Jensen For Senate 2024

Taken by surprise.  Questioning the proposed prison site.

Representative Kevin Jensen, District 16

I would like to start by saying that the proposed location for the new prison was an open and transparent process, but I can’t. I did receive three calls from the Governor’s office from June through August indicating that the preferred location would be somewhere in Lincoln County. Two of the calls were asking for recommendations about possibly finding land along the interstate near an intersection, so I reached out to a couple local realtor friends to see what might be available and there was only one quarter section listed. I put the Governor’s office in contact with that realtor. The third call was to tell me that this particular piece of private property was not suitable because it was too close to Harrisburg. There was no mention from the Governor’s office about the School and Public Lands site; the truth is I did not even know land was owned by the state in central Lincoln County.

It seems odd that Sioux Falls can say no to the new prison, Minnehaha County can say no, Yankton can say no, (and maybe others I am not aware of) but we in Lincoln County are just expected to accept it. It makes you wonder what other parts of this ‘deal’ are still not being told.

I have met with families, listened to their concerns, and expressed many of my own problems with this location. First, the families adjacent to the property were just as stunned as I was when the news came out. Some of them are generational family farms and some have just recently moved there or purchased acreage sites within a mile of the site. Those homes are huge investments by families who simply wanted a quiet place in the country to retire or raise a family. They are devastated. The site’s land appraised for an average of $25,000 per acre when farm land in that area generally sells for around $12,000 or less. How was that price justified and what will that do to local area land prices, home values and taxes?

Next, there is no infrastructure, none. Many Lincoln County residents have been complaining for years that their water pressure from the rural water system is getting lower every year as new homes are added. Even in my own home, 7 miles away from the site, we cannot run the washing machine and take a shower at the same time. Many people have filed complaints with the provider. I have been told the prison will require up to 150,000 gallons per day and the rural water company has assured the Governor they can handle the additional usage without affecting the current customers; I am not convinced they can do this.

Then there is the power requirement. There is a substation nearby, but I visited that site when it was under construction and it was supposed to provide power for additional acreages and development, not for the massive power usage of a facility of this magnitude. There is also a concern that the sewage system will be on or near the creek and watershed in that area. And, what consideration has been given to the affect 160 of acres of cement and blacktop will do to the natural runoff?  How will that affect land and homes to the south along the waterway when there are heavy rain events and snow melt runoff.

There is no way to diffuse the massive light emission from a facility this size where lighting is critical to security and safety. I recently questioned the Governor’s spokesperson about the light pollution and was told that directional LED lighting would be used within the facility to minimize those concerns. That was a disappointing response. There will be light pollution for miles around and it will be extremely difficult for those living near the facility to contend with the extreme change from starlit nights to nothing but light. Considering safety, if an escape were to happen the prison will likely be surrounded by corn fields and nearby farm groves and outbuildings. Lighting on the outside grounds will be a necessity no matter what they say now.

Another shortfall in this site is the medical considerations. I have been told that dozens of inmates require chemotherapy, dialysis and other physician visits regularly. Currently they can be transported to Sanford or Avera which are just a short distance away from the current location. At the proposed location they will be transporting prisoners at least 10 miles to Sioux Falls because the clinic and hospital in Canton and clinics in Harrisburg are not positioned to provide these additional services. When these services need to be provided year round, have they considered blizzards that routinely shut down highway 11, which will be the obvious route to provide these medical services. There have been times we have been snowed in for several days with no travel advised. I wonder if the Lincoln County Highway Superintendent has notified that it will be Lincoln County’s responsibility to keep those roads clear and to begin budget planning for increased road repair and snow removal costs.

Knowing the extensive historical presence of indigenous people in Lincoln County I am also wondering if they have considered the need for an archeological study of the area. Farming the topsoil is one thing, but digging footings and all of the subsurface infrastructure is quite another.

Currently the prison in Sioux Falls has a sheriff’s office nearby as well as city police presence, a swat team and other emergency support in case of a riot or other major event. And what about fire support? The new site will be the responsibility of local volunteer fire departments. They are understaffed and underequipped today and the economy is not helping. Last session I introduced and passed a bill that secured a five million grant program for volunteer fire departments to add to or replace firefighter’s personal protection equipment. Last week I was informed that there were 255 applications for those funds totaling 15.7 million dollars. Obviously the need is there to support our local volunteer fire departments; this prison will add more expense for them to fund. Most volunteer departments rely heavily on donations and fund raising events to keep their fire stations operational.

Certainly not the last consideration, but have they planned for the additional traffic of the supply trucks, support staff and visitors? Where will those who are visiting stay? Will developers build new apartment buildings, hotels and restaurants nearby? At the current location, many people rely on public transportation to visit family members and friends in the prison. Why are they dismissing those who want visitation or contact with loved ones?

I believe this site was selected and planned many months ago and kept a secret until they felt it would be too late to stop it. I have never seen a project of this magnitude, well over a half billion dollars, without any public input or even informing your local elected representatives. I found out only two days before the Dakota Scout broke the news, and it was because a local farmer called me, not the Governor.

I am truly disappointed in how this was handled and we are looking at every possibility to slow this process down and find a more suitable location. There was no transparency in this administration’s slam dunk in our back yards.

Obviously I do not have all the answers, but I do have a lot of questions, just like you. Why were your local State Legislators not informed, and who was informed and held the information tight. This is not how good government operates. I am actively working to make sure the people’s rights are considered first. Lincoln County has a planning and zoning process and I believe it is incumbent upon the state to explain how they can ignore the normal process of rezoning.

We need to work together. You can contact me anytime at kevinj605@gmail.com. You can call 605-366-6947, you may have to leave a message and be patient for a return call, my phone has been busy!

Representative Kevin D. Jensen, District 16.