The state Department of Corrections says it believes the Missouri River Correctional Center should stay where it is – and not be moved either to the site of the main Penitentiary in Bismarck – or to the Youth Correctional Center in Mandan.
The MRCC is a minimum security facility. It’s in south Bismarck – near the Missouri River. The House passed a measure that could lead to it being moved – and the land it is on now be converted to park land.
That’s the idea Bismarck businessman Mylo Candee is pushing.
"We simply do not want to see any kind of development, other than improved public access to the river and to the natural areas that are down there," Candee told the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Moving the MRCC was first proposed four years ago – and one of the ideas was to open the land for housing development. This measure sets aside money for a study – as well as a $12-million fund to be used if and when the facility would be moved.
State Corrections Director Lee Ann Bertsch told the Committee she believes it should stay where it is.
"The main building -- the one we occupy with the inmates -- was only built in 1991," said Bertsch. "The Department of Corrections has a number of aging buildings and infrastructure needs in all of its facilities. If you're going to spend $12 million, it would be better used to actually update some of our aging facilities."
The Appropriations Committee has not yet taken action.