IRON RIVER TOWNSHIP—Concern over the possible closure of the Michigan Department of Corrections (DOC) minimum security prison camp, known as Camp Ottawa and located in Iron River Township, prompted a group of four local officials from Iron County to fly to Lansing last week to meet with legislators and corrections officials.

A state budget bill that includes funding for the DOC, includes a recommendation to release 3,500 prisoners in order to reduce costs. One of the facilities being considered for closure is Camp Ottawa, which houses 280 minimum security prisoners.

Iron River Township Supervisor Mark Polley, who traveled to Lansing with Iron River Township Trustee Ken Piwarski, County Commissioner Chair Rosalie King and Iron County Economic Development Corporation Chair Jim Gibula, said the trip was made at the recommendations of Ron Basso, a local consultant and lobbyist, who was hired to assist the township with lobbying the legislature and government officials to keep Camp Ottawa open.

Approximately 50 employees work at the prison facility and most of them live in the area and have children in the West Iron County school system.

Closure of Camp Ottawa would not only increase unemployment in the area but might also result in a loss of up to 43 students in the West Iron County public school system.

“This would have disastrous consequences to the current funding of this system which is already in difficult straights,” said Polley.

The group attended the Corrections Subcommittee meeting of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is currently reviewing House Bill 4377.

Gibula stressed the economic impact closure of this facility would have on Iron County.

“A significant detrimental economic impact relative to the sale of attendant goods and services provided to the facility is another concern we have,” said Gibula.

Polley explained, “When this facility was constructed and opened in 1991, a sewer line was constructed to serve the facility. If Camp Ottawa is closed, the other residents on the same line would be required to pay an additional monthly fee to cover the cost of the extended sewer line.”

Camp Ottawa is the only correctional facility in the state operating a saw mill to provide training to inmates so they may have a productive skill when they leave the correctional system. Products produced at the mill are used by local municipalities.

“We have to continue to communicate with the Governor and our legislators,” said Basso. “As a follow up to this visit, we plan to send a petition with at least 100 signatures to Lansing. The petition can be read and signed at the WIKB radio station and Iron River City Hall.

“People who care about our economic health need to stop by and sign this as soon as possible.”