Heart of the Matter - Eight Years . . . and Counting

by Tom Kocal, Publisher

Nobody knows what's going to happen with the Thomson Correctional Center. We do know that, as of today, the State of Illinois is not planning to open TCC. The Minimum Security Wing of the eight-year-old facility is only section of the prison that has been utilized, and to date, even that will be minimally funded. Our new Governor, Pat Quinn, has initially budgeted a minimal $9 million just to keep an eye on it and make sure no more ceilings collapse.

Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman Derrick Schnapp said last week that of the 335 Correctional Officers hired to work at TCC, 255 have been transferred to other IDOC facilities. Eighty-one employees will stay on, running the MSU. "There is a position available for everyone," Schnapp told me. "Everyone has the opportunity to keep a job in the DOC."

Unfortunately, many of these DOC employees pulled up roots to move closer to their place of work, but now have to drive 1 to 2 hours one way. Then there are the Carroll County and Northwest Illinois residents who finally got a job there, and who are now in the same boat as the others.

Schnapp said the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union (AFSCME) is negotiating with these transfered employees as to how seniority and other key matters will affect their job status with the state. I know several of the employees, and they are not very happy. Monday, May 18 is the start date for the 255 transferred Correctional Officers at their new assignments.

The budget battle is just beginning in Springfield, with an end-of-May target date for a finalized budget plan. A coalition of Northwest Illinois legislators, and a few others from downstate, have requested a special meeting with Gov. Quinn with the objective of convincing him that TCC needs to be fully funded and operational this year. A few other key people from Carroll County will join them at the meeting, which has yet to be announced.

Representatives Mike Boland, Jim Sacia, Jerry Mitchell and Pat Verschoore are slated to be there, as are Senators Mike Jacobs and Dan Rutherford. I believe there may be a few more, too - from both sides of the aisle. They will do everything in there power to convince Gov. Quinn of the need to have this state-of-the-art facility operational in order to better serve the State of Illinois and its employees that in some cases, but their lives on the line at the more overcrowded, understaffed prisons. Others planning to petition the Governor at this meeting on behalf of our Carroll County citizens are Michael Doty, Carroll County Administrator, Nina Cooper, Chairman of the CC Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), and me, as Chairman of the CC Prison Focus Group. Two former TCC employees will also present their side of the story if they are available.

Maybe we will "suggest" that the $61 million in the IDOC budget for OVERTIME PAY - yes, $61 million - should be reapportioned to fully open TCC. Less than $50 million will get the ball rolling at Thomson. That still leaves over $11 million for OT.

"The DOC is like everyone else in this economy," Schnapp stated. "It's tough out there. People are getting laid off everywhere. But the DOC is a 24/7 operation."

True, but I don't know too many people getting OT hours, do you? I think it's time we "spread the wealth" and get TCC open, don't you?

"Because of their age, Pontiac, Menard and Stateville are a main concern of ours," Schnapp said. "We'd love to have TCC open, but with the resources we're handed, it's all we can do right now."

Well, folks, that's all they can do, but we're still trying hard. And so are the TCC employees. They ask the question, "Do We Care?"

If you do care, take a few hours this coming Saturday night, May 16, and stop in at Buck's Barn, located on Rt. 84 just 2 miles north of the TCC. It's a way to get these former co-workers together just one more time, and they ask for your support to let them know that the Carroll County community cares about them and their families.

The folks at Buck's Barn have donated the facility for this gathering. Well-known DJ "Music by Doug" has donated his services. There will be snacks and a cash bar. There will also be a basket for donations to help them in their endeavor to keep the Thomson Correctional Center open.

If you can't be there, maybe you will consider sending a check, made payable to the United Thomson Employees. You can send it to Venita McConnel, 401 S. College, Mt. Carroll, IL 61053. If you would like more information, call .

Please help . . . we're not done yet.