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John “Jack” Helin
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TAB 5
The Grand Island Independent (The Indepenent.com, Central City, NB)
January 30, 1998
Merrick Board Calls Meeting on Prison Sites
CENTRAL CITY — The Merrick County Board of Supervisors has called a special meeting to
seek public input on three proposed prison sites in the county. County Clerk Gloria Broekemeier
said the supervisors have sent letters and surveys to county residents living within one mile of
the proposed sites. The meeting will gauge county opinion before supervisors decide whether to
sign a letter of support for Central City's application for the prison, she said.
Jack Helin, city administrator for Central City, said the prison application requires letters of
support from all local governing bodies.
Central City is one of several Nebraska communities vying for the new 960-bed
maximum/minimum-security state prison. The deadline for applications is Feb. 9. The Central
City Council passed a resolution supporting the prison at Monday's meeting.
In September, the Merrick County board passed a resolution opposing a proposed prison site in
Hall County just across the road from the Merrick County border. The resolution stated that the
prison would negatively affect the roads, law enforcement, tax base and future economic
development of western Merrick County.
Helin said he thought the site was actually in Merrick County, within the two mile jurisdiction of
Hall County. The supervisors were just angry that they hadn't been consulted before the site was
nominated. Concerning Thursday's meeting and the county board's decision on a prison, Helin
said, "I don't know how it's going to go." He said that, other than folks who literally don't want
the prison in their back yards, most other public comment has been favorable.
The three sites being considered:
* North of the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks on the north edge of Central City, east of
Highway 14. The land is owned by the Oscar Poeffel Trust.
* West of Central City, east of the airport. The land is owned by Henry Greving.
* One-half mile south of Highway 30 on Fairgrounds Road. The land is owned by the Dinsdale
Brothers.
The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 in the board room at the courthouse.
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