Mineral Wells Index, Mineral Wells, TX

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April 21, 2009

Emerald open to alternate locations for ICE center

By Christin Coyne
ccoyne@mineralwellsindex.com

Emerald Companies is open to looking at other site locations in Mineral Wells for the proposed Immigrations and Customs Enforcement detention center, according to Chief Operating Officer Steve Afeman.

Mayor Mike Allen's decision to postpone any city council action on Emerald's specific use permit application at the proposed location northeast of Mineral Wells Municipal Airport in order to look for other potential sites has delayed the project but not killed it, according to Afeman.

“It's a curve in the road, it's not a dead end,” Afeman said. “It's still a good project, the need's still there.”

Afeman said he has been told that the main opposition from city leaders has been about the location near the airport rather than the prison itself.

Emerald entered into a 90-day option agreement, with the option for an extension, in January with the Industrial Foundation to buy nearly 62-acres northeast of the airport for $1 per acre. Emerald must meet certain criteria, including obtaining a specific use permit from the city, within the deadline to purchase the land.

The acreage is the last piece of land owned by the Industrial Foundation, whose mission is to attract businesses and jobs to Mineral Wells and receives funds from the city and county.

Emerald is open to looking at sites in other parts of Mineral Wells, including in Palo Pinto County, according to Afeman.

Rather than Emerald seeking out the airport, the Industrial Foundation has pointed Emerald to three sites in the vicinity for the location of the prison over the past two years, Afeman said.

“The location within a five-mile radius doesn't make a whole lot of difference,” Afeman said.

Any site must be within a 75-mile radius of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, be fairly flat and have the appropriate sewer and water connections, according to Afeman.

“Hassle's a way of life,” Afeman said, addressing concerns that the latest developments may deter Emerald from putting the proposed prison in Mineral Wells.

“The city council has to decide whether they ... need or want 130 to 140 more jobs,” Afeman said.

If the project doesn't work in Mineral Wells, Afeman said they would consider sites in five or six other counties.

“It's going to be built somewhere,” Afeman said.

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