| Wilsonville Site Chosen by Governor Kitzhaber |
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March 27, 1998
Mayor Charlotte Lehan
City of Wilsonville
30000 SW Town Center Loop E
Wilsonville, OR 97070
Dear Mayor Lehan:
Since I left on my trade mission for China, a great amount of work has occurred on the proposed alternative prison site in Wilsonville. I had the opportunity to review that work last Friday and I am impressed by the city´s demonstrated commitment to siting a prison on the alternative site in Wilsonville. I have also received a letter from Oregonians for Responsible Prison Siting which endorses the alternative site.
I am convinced the alternative site has the potential to be acceptable to both the Department of Corrections and the City of Wilsonville. Therefore, I will direct the Department of Corrections and other relevant state agencies to work with the city in considering the alternative Wilsonville site further. I propose that up to 90 days from today be taken to refine the analysis of the alternative site and to work to secure legal and infrastructure agreements that will make it possible to site a prison there.
However, I want to be very clear that I do not come to this decision without serious concerns, each of which must be addressed in our work together. I am concerned about the fairness question to the landowners and neighbors most directly affected by the alternative site. I am concerned about our ability to secure this site in a given time period with at least as much, or greater, certainty than we have at the primary Dammasch site. I am concerned about cost, and to the extent such a change results in any increased cost, legislative leadership must recommend to me that such increases are acceptable.
The Dammasch site is a very good site on which to build a prison and I remain comfortable with it. It is not inadequate for construction and operation of a correctional facility. However, I pride my administration as one which seeks community-based solutions and, because of this, and the impressive effort by the city, we will see to even more fully consider the alternative prison site in Wilsonville. This decision clearly goes beyond the requirements of law, which the state has already fulfilled.
This process is not open-ended and not without accountability. At the end of the process, I expect the Department of Corrections, the City of Wilsonville, Oregonians for Responsible Prison Siting, all of our respective lawyers, the legislative leadership, and my staff to agree on a certain and specific course of action that will enable the alternative site to become legally available for a prison. If a process for siting certainty is not agreed to, I will not take steps to relinquish the Dammasch site and will proceed with the construction of the facility at that location.
In my view, this is a two-step process. First, what has been claimed must be proved, that this is a "win-win" opportunity. The second step, if necessary, is to ensure that the alternative site is made legally available to the state for the siting of a prison.
I have designated Steve Marks, my Senior Policy Advisor, to work with you, the Department of Corrections, Oregonians for Responsible Prison Siting, and the legislative leadership to facilitate the work which must be accomplished.
Sincerely,
John A. Kitzhaber, M.D.
cc:
Brady Adams, Senate President
Lynn Lundquist, Speaker of the House
Kitty Piercy, House Democratic Leader
Cliff Trow, Senate Democratic Leader
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