Lawmakers vote to delay closure of Bent County prison - The Denver Post

Lawmakers vote to delay closure of Bent County prison - The Denver Post

The closure of a state prison in Bent County has been delayed six months, giving local officials more time to try to figure how to cope with what has been called an "economic tornado."

The Joint Budget Committee today voted to change the closure date of the Fort Lyon Correctional Facility from Aug. 31 to March 1, 2012.

"This isn't easy folks," Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, tweeted after the vote.

The prison is Bent County's second-largest employer.

Bent County Commissioner Bill Long, who sat through the hearing, called the decision "disappointing." Local officials had sought a year's delay.

"A year would have been much better, but we are grateful for this," Long said.

He said the most important

thing is that the closure process does not begin until late next February to give Bent County the full six months.

The closure plan calls for transferring 399 inmates to private prisons and 86 inmates with medical needs to two state prisons. Department of Corrections employees would be transferred to other facilities.

Rep. Jon Becker, R-Fort Morgan, said he was worried about the closure's domino effect on schools and other operations.

"I believe this committee should give this community a least a year," he said.