It’s up to a legislative task force to decide how Wyoming should deal with structural issues at the state penitentiary building in Rawlins. They can either make repairs or construct an entirely new building.
The 13-member task force includes five senators. Senator Stephen Pappas, an architect from Cheyenne, is among five other senators on the task force.
He says the current maximum-security prison facility has cracked walls and floors because the foundation was built on expansive soils. Construction of the facility began in 1998 and was completed in phases, but Pappas says it also appears to have not been built according to its design.
The current facility was built after similar structural problems occurred at the old building—also known as the South Facility—which is nearby.
“They’re right across the road from each other, about a quarter-mile apart. It’s unfortunate that twice now we have run into structural problems with the Wyoming state penitentiary. Seems like we just haven’t been able to get it right.”
Pappas says the task force has two different choices with significantly different costs—repairs to the current building would cost the state $85 million, while a new building would come in at about $180 million.
“That’s the big question. If we were rolling in the dough, I’m assuming we might want to think about building a new facility.”
The task force will make a recommendation to Governor Matt Mead in October.