A unanimous ‘no’: Harrisburg votes on prison sewer proposal

HARRISBURG S.D. (KELO) — A proposed men’s prison in Lincoln county has run into a slight road block. The state sought to connect the facility’s wastewater to Harrisburg’s sewage plant.

People living in the Harrisburg area packed the gym at Liberty Elementary School tonight to voice their concerns, including members of a group called, NOPE, Neighbors Opposing Prison Expansion.

“Although seven million dollars is a sizeable amount of money, it’s pennies to what it could cost this community in the foreseeable feature,” Sam Eiesland said.

“Inmates will flush anything and everything. That will end up in the Harrisburg sewage system. Drugs, tattoo ink, needles, guns, paper bags, sheets, their clothes, aluminum cans, and packaging from the commissary. You name it, and if they have access, and if they want to flush it, they will,” Michelle Jensen said.

Then, Ryan Brunner with Governor Kristi Noem’s office made his case.

“I believe the current location is going to stay where it is. Others might disagree with that, but if you don’t agree with the current location, I believe you should still want the city of Harrisburg to enter into this agreement,” Brunner said.

But ultimately, the city council voted unanimously to not allow sewage to go from the proposed prison to Harrisburg.

State officials have say that a wastewater lagoon system could be built for the prison near the site as a backup plan.