Berlin NH Federal Prison Complex- photo courtesy M/E Engineering, P.C.

From Berlin, NH City Manager Patrick MacQueen at the 1/17/10 City Council Regular Meeting:

Looks like inmates could arrive beginning in March 2011 and ramp up until full in May 2012!

It is a reasonable schedule from our point of view and one we are reasonably sure we can accommodate and we have told them that. The handling of 60k gpd in July as shown on the schedule should be no problem because they currently have that authorization from us because of the temporary connection we made for them at the industrial park. This temporary connection takes their sewage under the river and down the west side of the river in existing pipe. By this June, the new pump station which is scheduled for completion at the end of May, should be able to be used in conjunction with the already constructed to force main to take all the sewage the BOP projects even when fully ramped up.

Any issue that there may be does not likely come from our ability to receive their sewage, but instead possibly from our ability to treat it and to not have it become part of a (Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) event. Even in these areas, we are feeling fairly confident, and are hoping that our I&I projects will prove to provide dramatic reductions in our I&I. However, if we have problems, they are likely to occur when we have an abnormal rain event (of which we usually have several each year) possibly combined with the necessary taking off line of a clarifier or aerator or the like during the construction of the WWTF improvements which will occur beginning this summer and continue at least through all of 2012.

The BOP is concerned about being told by us if a problem arises that they might have to reduce prisoners which would obviously be very difficult for them to do. Our concern is the possible difficulty in meeting our EPA permit requirements, which we sometimes have difficulty with now during large rain events, combined with the logistics of trying to carry out the needed improvements to the WWTF which will require taking certain of the facilities off line for periods of time to effectuate the improvements. What we are looking for from the BOP is some flexibility if need be in working with us in the ramp up, not by reducing the number of prisoners, but in perhaps delaying the ramp up if we foresee a problem developing.

We have already assured the BOP that we will be doing everything we can possibly do to accommodate their proposed ramp up on their schedule.

View of Berlin NH looking south-southeast from the top of Mt. Jasper

New England Cable News recently did a story on the recession, its impact on the Berlin NH region, and the economic opportunities that Berlin NH has in the pipeline. Its a little dated (June 11, 2009), but its a great little piece which touches on Laidlaw Biomass, Clean Power Biomass, the new Federal Bureau of Prisons project and the development of ATV trails, snowmobiling, and other development ideas.

Federal Bureau of Prisons Facility in Berlin NH, due to open in 2010

Like it or not, the correctional industry is going to play a part in the future of Berlin NH’s economy for years to come. With approximately 200 (including myself), employed at the Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility and another 340 jobs planned for the Federal Bureau of Prisons Berlin NH facility, corrections jobs will be the #1 industry in town. Combined payrolls will be over $40 million annually, easily trumping the payrolls of the next 3 largest employers in Berlin NH combined. Nobody is contesting the fact that these jobs will help stabilize the local economy…. but at what cost?  Lets take a look at some pros and cons of our prison based economy:

PRO: Jobs.

In total, 540 jobs combined….starting salaries in the $35,000-$40,000 range, with averages in the $45,000-$50,000 range. All jobs currently will have great state and federal benefits, including health insurance, retirement etc…. (Although that may be at risk, as the state of NH is looking to possibly privitize the state prison, more on that later….)

CON: 2000+ inmates in the region will bring many inmate’s families to live closer to their loved-ones, possibly bringing with it more welfare, poverty and crime.

While this is known to be true…(ask anyone who works in the state prison), state officials continue to deny that this actually happens. I have personally spoken to visitors in the state prison who have moved here to be closer to their inmate loved-ones….. (last person I spoke with told me she moved from Laconia area because she was afraid of seeing moose on the way up north.) How many of these families are there? 10?, 20?, 50?…. not exactly sure……

When the federal prison opens, will it make the problem worse? After all, many of these inmates will be from far away, out of state places, making it even more difficult for families to visit….. will that bring more familes to Berlin for the sole purpose of being nearby?

There is no question that the added jobs will be beneficial to the area, hopefully stabilizing real estate prices, adding precious spendable dollars to the local economy, helping local businesses and their families. The only question: Is it worth the sacrifice? Many people are against Laidlaw because of what it brings to the center of town, but these prisons may be bringing much worse and scattering it all over town……

I’d love to hear your thoughts……