PRESS RELEASE 

February 10, 2010

FROM:  CHAIRMAN OF THE WAYNE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

KEEP BUTLER SHOCK INCARCERATION CAMP OPEN 

The New York State Department of Corrections has indicated they will soon close the Butler Correctional Annex, located in the Town of Butler, resulting in the loss of 62 jobs in northeastern Wayne County.  The preservation of these jobs is critical to the economic health of Wayne County.  I am asking that you consider the disproportionate impact of these job losses to our rural communities and maintain Butler Correction Facility as a functional institution in Wayne County. 

In 1988 Wayne County worked tirelessly to obtain financing and install a seven-mile waterline to serve the new prison.  Several years ago the Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority built a centralized wastewater treatment plant in the town of Wolcott to solve a serious sewage treatment  problem at the prison.  Local taxpayers have invested significant time and money to keep these jobs in Wayne County.  These considerable infrastructure investments, as well at 62 jobs, are now in serious jeopardy.  Closing this facility would negatively impact hard-working Wayne County families. 

Please join the Board of Supervisors in opposing the closure of the Butler Correctional Facility Annex by asking the State Department of Corrections keep the facility open and operational and are offering you the opportunity to voice your support of this action by signing a petition to state your support of the Correctional Facility and those employees, vendors and communities that would be devastated by the closing of this viable facility. 

All members of the Board of Supervisors support the continued operation of this facility and request those interested in keeping the Butler Correctional Facility open sign a petition to further aid this mission.  This can be done by going to the County website at http://co.wayne.ny.us  and clicking on the “fill out the petition” link. 

Together let’s support jobs iin Wayne County and tell our State Legislators that decisions causing more job loss in Upstate New York are unwarranted and unacceptable.  Our Board and the entire Wayne County community appreciate your assistance with this matter.