Prison work crew descending onto derelict Waterloo state prison facility

Special to the Legal News The long abandoned Camp Waterloo state prison facility will get some needed TLC from a prison work crew starting Monday after Rep. Mike Shirkey contacted state Department of Corrections Director Dan Heyns about the dire condition of the old prison grounds. In 2009, three individuals set fire to a portion of the facility, worsening its condition. After getting complaints from nearby residents about how much of an eyesore the old prison was becoming, Shirkey contacted Heyns, a former Jackson County sheriff, and was thankful but not surprised at the outcome. The former sheriff ordered a work crew to start Monday morning to begin clearing rubbish, debris and trash from the grounds. ''The work crew is only a beginning, but it's a very good beginning,'' said Shirkey, whose legislative district includes Waterloo. ''Getting that work crew out there Monday morning is a testament to Director Heyns' fast-acting, take-charge style that made him such a successful sheriff in Jackson County. "He is unaccustomed to the snail's pace approach taken by the state at times, nor should he be.'' Shirkey and Rep. Earl Poleski, a Jackson lawmaker and member of the House Appropriations Committee, will continue to work to ensure that Camp Waterloo is properly cleaned and remediated. Camp Waterloo was closed by the state approximately 10 years ago. ''Tearing down and cleaning up this neglected facility is a priority for Jackson County, and I will work through the appropriations process to continue to drive toward completion,'' Poleski said. ''This is a question of fairness and what is right. Our state government made the decision to close Camp Waterloo, and our government needs to take responsibility and clean it up.'' Both lawmakers stressed that the work crew is only the first step in a long process to clean Camp Waterloo. ''By working together, we can give Camp Waterloo the attention it needs and deserves,'' Shirkey said. ''Ultimately, we need to take this property to the 'clean bill of health' stage so we can then consider its next best and highest use. It's also certainly beneficial to have such a strong advocate for 'doing the right thing' in the Department of Corrections.'' Published: Mon, Dec 12, 2011

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