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	Hearing Held for Proposed Moapa Detention Facility

	by Tim Robison Moapa Valley Progress The US Department of Justice Office of the Federal Detention Trustee visited Moapa on Wednesday, January 16 to hold a scoping hearing and hear community response to the proposed federal detention facilities draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS). The Moapa site for the detention facility is one of two sites being pursued by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA). The second site is located in Nye County near Pahrump. The meeting began promptly at 7 pm the first resident to speak was the Town Advisory Board Chairwoman Ann Schreiber. She did not speak for or against the facility but simply asked that everyone there be respectful and let the process work. The second resident to speak was Pam Noffsinger of Moapa. Noffsinger explained that she had grown up in a prison town and that she did not feel any ill effects from the experience. “I would like to see this come to the community, so we could see some jobs created for those that need them,” she said. Next to rise was Shawn Preston, who works with owners of land where the detention facility will be placed as well as with the builders of the proposed industrial park in Moapa. Preston was in favor of the detention facility. “The County Commission has approved the site and it is going forward, it will mean money and jobs for the community,” he said. Rachel Wright of Moapa was next to speak to the issue. She expressed concerns that the facility was too close to Perkins Elementary. Wright noted that there had already been a lock down at the school this year that had traumatized the children. Regarding the pro argument of the facility brining jobs to the Valley Wright said, “We don’t need jobs here, we have cars and can drive to Glendale or Mesquite to work.” Bob Lyman said that the Valley could get other business better than a detention facility. “We don’t have the infrastructure to support this,” Lyman said. “We don’t have the police or the fire support for this kind of project.” Lyman also expressed concern for the residents of the Paiute Indian Reservation, “I love going out to the Reservation, they have the best hotdogs around,” he said. “This facility is going to be a stones throw from their community there.” Moapa Town Advisory Board Member Laurellyn Wren spoke against the facility because of the environmental impact that the facility would have on the area. Vice Chair of the Town Board Craig Wolfley spoke next voicing concerns of the lack of necessary infrastructure to support the facility. In addition to the verbal comments expressed at the meeting, written comments from community members were also encouraged. One written comment was sent in the days after the meeting by Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce President, Vernon Robison. “From everything I have seen, the proposed detention facility will have a very positive effect on the business environment in this community,” Robison wrote. “Given this, I think that it should be a no-brainer for us to be in full support of the project.” Written comments may be sent to Mr. Scott P. Stermer; Assistant Federal Detention Trustee, Procurement; Office of the Federal Detention Trustee; 4601 N Fairfax Drive, 9th Floor; Arlington, VA 22203. “I am pleased with the number of people who showed up tonight,” said Brad Wiggins, CCA Director of Acquisition and Development. “It is important that everyone come and let their voices be heard this is their community after all. We feel very positive about this meeting.” When asked to explain CCA’s policies when building their facilities in towns that did not have adequate fire and police to handle their facilities, Wiggins said that it is not a major problem for them. He said that if there is not adequate fire or police resources in the community CCA provides all of the needs of the facility in-house.