The Tooele County Commission unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday that supports moving the Utah State Prison from Draper to Tooele County. The resolution also states that the county desires to be a participant in the selection of a new prison site.
‘This is to put us in standing when and if we decide we want to be looked at as a site,” said Commissioner Jerry Hurst. “We need to look at the pros and cons, including jobs, revenue coming into the county, and ancillary business that may locate around the prison.”
The negatives that need to be mitigated, according to Hurst, include a perception that relatives of prisoners might relocate here, and a fear that escapees might find their way into area communities.
The resolution concludes: “Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of Commissioners of Tooele County that Tooele County supports the concept of relocating the Utah State Prison facility (Draper) to Tooele County. Tooele County looks forward to participating in the process the State will use to identify and select the relocation site.”