Prison Relocation – Update

If you have been following the process of the Prison Relocation Commission, you may have read the article I published which stated the reasons for my opposition. If you have not read the Daily Herald article, you may do so by clicking here. On December 10th, the City Council held a special session to adopt a resolution which formally stated our collective opposition to the prison being relocated to Eagle Mountain. In that resolution we stated we would spend up to $50,000 to oppose the PRC through efforts which may include hiring a lobbyist, legal counsel, or public education efforts. The purpose for the resolution was to send a strong message to the PRC due to the fact that we have no representation on the commission, and we have felt as if we have no voice in this matter. To date, we have not spent a dime of your tax dollars on this fight. We have opted to approach the Prison Relocation Commission directly in an attempt to have some meaningful communication and to help the PRC members see what we see. We want the PRC members to understand the tremendous opportunities we have before us. We see that Eagle Mountain will play a significant role in Utah’s economy, and that Eagle Mountain is poised to offer Utah something unique that can’t be found in other city along the Wasatch Front. We have a booming population of 26,000 people and continuing to grow fast. We know who we are, and we have taken intentional steps to position ourselves for prosperity through meaningful economic development, all while preserving the qualities that make Eagle Mountain special. Since December 10th, I have met with Senator Stevenson, Representative Wilson, Governor Herbert’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Mike Mower, and many residents, as well as other officials tied to the PRC. While I still don’t think everyone understands what our city is like or what a prison would do to our economy, I can tell you that the lines of communication are now open. I intend to keep providing information demonstrating why the site in Eagle Mountain is not appropriate for the prison relocation until it is removed from the PRC site selection list. If you want to help me, get involved by attending the Prison Relocation Commission meeting on December 22nd at 2:00 PM at the Capitol. If you plan on attending and would like an opportunity to carpool, Council Member Donna Burnham will be at City Hall at 12:15 PM on Monday coordinating that. Carpools are planning to depart by 12:30 PM. As always, please leave a comment or call me directly at 801-564-9342 if you have questions.