In 2005, two prisoners escaped the Iowa State Penitentiary (ISP) at Fort Madison. After their escape, Department of Corrections (DOC) officials and others met to evaluate the safety and security at prisons throughout the state. Many recommendations were made; and in 2008, the General Assembly appropriated $130.7 million to build a new prison in Fort Madison.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in the late summer of 2010 and the prison was expected to be completed in late 2012 or early 2013. As of today, the prison is unoccupied and there is no definite timeline as to when it will be opened and inmates housed in the new prison.
In his opening remarks to members of the Iowa House, Speaker Kraig Paulsen tasked the Government Oversight Committee with investigating why the new prison in Fort Madison was still not open. This past week, the House Government Oversight Committee, which I serve as Vice Chair, started their investigation into the problems that have plagued Fort Madison for the past two years.
At first glance, multiple issues have kept the prison closed. In late 2013, prison officials found major problems with the geothermal unit that was supposed to heat the cells. As constructed, the geothermal system could not properly heat the building. Contractors were called back to the prison and retrofitting was done to ensure the pumps could spread heat through the buildings. Currently, the heating and cooling systems are working.
Another large problem the prison is facing is the inability to clear smoke in case of a fire. As of now, the Fire Marshall will not issue an occupancy permit because the ventilation system cannot clear smoke on the second floor of the prison. Unlike other buildings, a prison’s windows cannot be opened to help clear smoke. Therefore, the ventilation system used must be strong enough to remove smoke from the upper floor. Engineers, DOC officials, and the Fire Marshall are currently working to remedy this problem; but as of now, there is no timeline for a fix.
This past Wednesday, the House Government Oversight Committee met with retiring Director of Corrections, John Baldwin, to discuss the prison construction and delays. While Director Baldwin’s testimony revealed nothing new about the delays, it was made clear that the committee will need to shift its focus to the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) which handled the contracts for construction and equipping the new prison.
One of my main objectives, as your representative, is to root out waste, fraud, and abuse of your hard-earned tax dollars. This investigation will no doubt be a lengthy process, but there are questions that must be answered in order to protect the Iowa taxpayer from a similar situation happening again. I am committed to getting to the source of the problem, finding out how we may recoup any excessive costs associated with the delay and when we can expect our new penitentiary to be fully operational.
It is an honor to serve the people of House District 28. Until next time, God bless.