‘Failure is not an option’ Rhoden says of new prison

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — New Gov. Larry Rhoden said the state’s “back is against the wall” and a new men’s prison needs to be built.

Rhoden responded to questions about the proposed new men’s prison during his Thursday news conference.

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“I’m not prepared to discuss if it’s not happening. I believe it will,” Rhoden said.

Rhoden described concrete crumbling from the ceiling of a showroom and shower heads hanging from rusty pipes and an overall, outdated crumbling facility.

“We need to resolve this and it needs to be this year,” Rhoden said. “Failure is not an option.”

A new men’s prison is planned for a site in Lincoln County between Harrisburg and Canton. The plan has supporters who say the men’s prison in Sioux Falls is outdated and unsafe. Opponents question the location, price and plan for the prison.

The guaranteed maximum price is $825 million.

Opponents, including some lawmakers, have said there are alternative plans such as revamping several men’s prisons and building a second story at the Jameson Annex in Sioux Falls.

Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko has said in multiple legislative meetings that Jameson only supports one additional story for roughly 200 beds which does not solve the problem. Also, a multi-story facility is not the safest or best option, she has said.

A recent story on a tour of the men’s prison in Sioux Falls in which KELOLAND News was allowed limited access to the facility drew criticism from some new prison opponents.

Rhoden was asked about the KELOLAND News video and his response to a former warden’s criticism that the video and story don’t tell a full, truthful story about the condition.

“I won’t disparage (the former warden), but I saw it for myself and I know what I saw,” Rhoden said.

When all lawmakers get fully updated on all the existing prison and new prison information, Rhoden said they will understand the need and the plan.

House Majority Leader Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach said Thursday that before a bill is brought to the House State Affairs committee, he’s giving the governor’s office and DOC officials more time to answer questions at the Republican House Caucus.

Rhoden said it’s “a miracle” the state has been yet sued in relation to the prison.

He encouraged those lawmakers who have doubts about the need or plan to tour the prison.

House Bill 1025 authorizes the DOC to build a new prison. It also outlines the $763 million appropriated for the prison. The bill also allows the state treasurer to transfer $148,109,837 from the general fund and $33,926,134 from the budget reserve to the incarceration fund to be used for the construction of the prison.