Hudson Postpones Decision on Private Prison

Private prison companies are going after Weld County, but the citizens are balking. CCJRC has already joined Rep Buffie McFadyen in the call for the rescinding of the contract that GEO has in Ault. There is a citizens group in Ault that is trying to stop private prisons from invading their town also. Now the folks in Hudson are voicing their concerns as well.

Hudson town board members decided Wednesday night to postpone a decision to move forward with plans on annexing a portion of unincorporated Weld County for future use as a private women's prison.

Close to 50 residents from Weld County were at the meeting to voice concerns they had regarding the economic impact the proposed prison would create.

Hudson Mayor Neal Pontius said the town plans to begin annexing what would be close to 320 acres northwest of Hudson. Once the area becomes part of the town, he said he would like to leave it up to the residents to vote on whether the area should be zoned for the use of the prison. Pontius said the vote is tentatively set for May.

"I want to get all the information and I want to make a smart choice for the town," Pontius said. The annexation was postponed to get more residents' comments.

Last June, the Colorado Department of Corrections awarded Houston-based Cornell Companies the bid to build an 832-bed women's prison in Hudson, a potentially $16 million annual contract. Cornell Companies runs prisons in 18 states throughout the country, including one juvenile treatment facility in Cañon City. The proposal for the prison was put forward to the city's town board last April.

Some residents already have begun working to convince the community that a prison would be a bad choice for the town, said Laura Moreland, who lives outside the city limits in Fort Lupton.

"We are opposed to private prisons in general," Moreland said.

Greeley Tribune