Ault, Economic Development and Private Prisons

One of Colorado's proposed new private prisons is slated to be built in Ault, Colorado. This prison would double the population of the town. The company that won the contract (GEO) is the same one that was recently underfire (and got fired) for not fulfilling their obligation in Pueblo. They are apparently pushing propaganda now to buffalo the citizens of this small rural town.

In July, a flyer was mailed to Ault residents titled “The Prison Facts.” It was circulated by the GEO Group and endorsed by many of the town’s leadership, who were listed at the end of the flyer with their contact information. It lists the many economic benefits a prison would bring to Ault, including jobs for 300-350 people. The flyer admits that some administrators and senior staff will come from elsewhere in the country, but tries hard to imply that other jobs would come from Ault, noting “Ault is rural, but has over 400,000 people in a 40 mile radius. This is where GEO hopes to hire most of their employees.” That’s true of course, but that radius includes Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley; Ault’s growth management area extends only about a half mile from the center of town....

.....When researching the prison, Tidwell, one of the opponents who formed Citizens Against the Ault Prison, discovered a Town Board resolution passed and signed in May by former Mayor James Fladung stating the town would proceed with a contract with GEO, which was attached as an exhibit. The 13-page contract was complete except for signatures and an agreement on the amount of the payment in lieu of taxes. Convinced the prison was being negotiated without any public input, Tidwell and others successfully petitioned for an ordinance that requires a vote of the residents before a prison is built.

GEO did not return phone calls regarding this article.

Read the Ft. Collins Weekly article here