2/16/2010 12:35:00 AM Prison proposal: CCA won't resume interest in Fain property
Heidi Dahms Foster/Courtesy Corrections Corporation of America Senior Site Acquisition Director Brad Wiggins stands among a crowd Jan. 14 after speaking about his company's original proposal to build a 5,000-bed prison in Prescott Valley. Because of opposition from the Town Council and the public, Wiggins has announced CCA has withdrawn all Prescott Valley considerations at this time, public and private.
PRESCOTT VALLEY - Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) will not resume interest in a potential prison site here in response to an announcement by Bill and Brad Fain that they will continue to consider a private prison for their land.
"At this point in time it does not change where CCA is," spokeswoman Louise Grant said Monday. She said the time frame to continue consideration of the site off Fain Road is too tight with the upcoming release of requests for proposals to solicit the private sector to operate prisons in Arizona.
The state Department of Corrections is seeking private companies to house as many as 5,000 inmates in new or existing prisons. CCA, which owns six prisons in Pinal County, also has studied sites in Winslow and west of Wickenberg.
"We are looking at all options. We are still looking throughout the state," said Grant, who is based in Nashville, Tenn.
CCA's senior director for site acquisition, Brad Wiggins, notified Gary Marks, executive director of the Prescott Valley Economic Development Foundation, in a letter dated Feb. 5 that the company was withdrawing consideration from the Fain property. Grant said afterward that opposition from a majority of the Town Council prompted CCA's decision.
Brad Fain of the Fain Signature Group and Fain Land and Cattle Co. acknowledged Thursday evening that renewed interest from CCA was unlikely, adding he received a copy of the letter from Wiggins.
He and his father, Bill, announced during the public comment period of the council meeting Thursday that they would seek to annex the proposed prison site to the town and rezone it. The family owns 881 acres of grazing land that it has planned for more than three years for an industrial park.
"We are working with our team, our zoning and annexation team," Brad Fain said after the meeting.
He and his father said they would welcome a public vote on whether to locate a prison on their land.
The public process for the prison appeared to have died Jan. 28 when three members of the council expressed opposition to the prison, citing phone calls and e-mails from constituents.
Mayor Harvey Skoog, who went on record against the prison Jan. 27, said he does not know whether any other prison companies are expressing interest in Prescott Valley.
Pablo Paez, director of corporate relations for The GEO Group in Boca Raton, Fla., declined in an e-mail to state whether his company is considering the tri-city area for a proposed prison. GEO operates three prisons in Arizona.
Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2010
Article comment by:
Sherlock I boycott al businesses on Fain land
That bunch of money grubbing corrupters don't give a sneeze about P.V. it all about money, its an illness they have. Keep you eyes on the prison, and recalls of all their confederates in government. But never forget the main attack....that will be the water pipeline ! Also the Politicians like Tobin and Mason etc that poke their noses in an attempt to help the land owners ( Guess they got some big contributions in the past) need to be sent packing. If you continue to elect this kind of lapdog beholding politicians , you get exactly what you deserve.
Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2010
Article comment by:
Question,,, Please
Why must the Fain land need to be annexed prior to a vote? Can't the town just create a resolution that no prisons may ever be annexed into the town limits of Prescott Valley, Az. and furthermore no annexation greater than 100 acres at any one time. I would also like to see no incentives to builders at all. Most citizens were not offered incentives to come here, why should anyone else get incentives??
Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2010
Article comment by:
Gus Patrick
"Fain Shrine" in my garage...wow, that was a funny one. My point is this, it's always funny how those with money and land are the "bad guys" when they want to make more money or gain more land. But if the shoe was on the other foot, I am sure we would all be greedy just like the Fains and "sell out" the little man. The Fains aren't going anywhere, and those of you in PV did NOT wrench the lands out of Fain's hands to build this town. The Fain's sold their land so "your" town could begin and grow. The Fains are not the bad guys nor is the town of Prescott Valley the good guys. Prisons have to be built. People have the right to make money (tons and tons of it on the backs of the "little guy" if that is how they wish to do it). So, if the Fains want to make an offer, they can, dosen't make them evil, just makes them businessmen. And yes, Tom - , we can always vote the "proposal" down.
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Article comment by:
tom -
The town needs to remember that a vote is the only answer and please remember just because we disagree with the Fain family on the prison they are still our friends and fellow patriots.
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Article comment by:
RE GUS
No the Fains did not put PV on the map the people who make up a community put PV on the map. Fain just took credit, now go back to your fain shrine in your garage. The Fains will go down in history as the land owner the people took control of. Now lets make sure the Fains remember who controls this town.
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Article comment by:
fed up
Patrick in P.V. you further show you ignorance by your lack of knowledge Second ammendment is for the right to bear arms, not freedom of speech or press. that would be the first ammendment. now try to get some education.
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Article comment by:
Gus Patrick
Just a bit of history for you "Fain Bashers". If it were not for the Fains and more specifically, Fain Signature Group....your wonderful PV that you are so diligent to "protect" would not exist. Yep, it was the Fains that made this community happen. Bringing in groups of developers and people to invest in the land and town. So, you may be correct, the Fains may be in this just for the money (welcome to the US were people are allowed to be greedy). But just remember, it was they that put PV on the map.
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Article comment by:
Patrick in PV
Wow! Val's statement kind of says it all, doesn't it? "What makes you think you have the right to address anyone like that?" Seriously Val, it's called the 2nd Ammendment. It's what you've been using to attack anyone that you believe to be pro prison. Here's a newsflash for ya - there are a lot of out here who are against the prison, but as intelligent people they prefer to focus on the issue rather than school yard name calling. I'm one of them. If it comes to a vote, I am voting no. I'm not going to attack the developers just because I don't like their project, and personally I think people who do lose credibility.
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Article comment by:
val grandaro
To Horrified by my Fellow PV Residents, what makes you think you have the right to address anyone like that? Just because your a fain groupie does not make you right. We are all right in our opinions. The fains have not done one thing for this town that did not benefit them. Now money is tight for everyone. People across the country are cutting back. Some move to smaller homes, some quit smoking and others drink less. But the fains are the only people I know of that want it all and a prison to boot.
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Article comment by:
Re Brittany
Your crying and whining again and it will do no good to post worthless complaining about a serious situation as a prison but nice try. Maybe if you stopped pointing your finger asking mom for help and instead read up a little on how a Prison will negatively effect our town people would stop laughing at you, Grow up!
Posted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Article comment by:
tom -
TO: TOM- THAT MADE THE COMMENT THE PRISON WAR IS OVER. ... USE YOUR OWN NAME. THE PRISON WAR WILL NOT BE OVER TILL THE COUNCIL MAKES THE RULES TO READ NO PRISON IN THE TOWN AT ALL.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
Brittany H
See, Horrified. Told you. People just attack one another on these boards. And if you say even the slightest thing that they don't like, they just assume you are supporting the other side, and are now the enemy. Too bad there wasn't real debate here, rather than just name calling.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
tired of it all
What some of you pro Fain/prison supporters don't get is that we have something very special area here in the quad city area. A small town feel (remember) With very little congestion compared to other towns and citys. The Fains care about one thing, developing there land (there right) and making more money at the expense of us the folks that live here. Developers don't care what happens to an area. They develop it, basicaly destroy the area and move on to destroy another area. Prescott Valley should have what Prescott has, tax money to buy land to preserve it. Fain Road? Why can't the state name it a scenic road? That way no one can build anything near it to destroy the views. Just my 2 cents.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
Rev. Craig
I'm also Horrified at how the Fains are treating the people of Prescott Valley, its disgraceful and despicable. Thank You to all the people of PV who are willing to stand up against the tyrants trying to destroy our family town.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
Brittany R
Respectable???? are you kidding? these money grubbers don't care about anyone but themselves, they deserve everything being said.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
Terry G
Horrified and Horrified Jr. I guess the Fains should have thought of this before they tried to destroy our town for personal wealth. Personally I hope it gets even worse, Why? THEY DESERVE IT!!!!!!!!!! Nobody has the right to destroy a town and if they try then they face the criticism and possibly much worse.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
RE Horrified
Well that's just too bad that you are horrified, sometimes the truth hurts. By the way the Fains are not part of the Prescott Valley Community as just being a land owner does not make you part of the community. The greedy selfish decision made not once, not twice, but now three times have made it clear the Fains do not care about the people who LIVE in PV, and remember the Fains started this war with his soldiers but We will never allow his greed to ruin our town. Here is a tip, next year don't trick or treat at the Fains and you won't be disappointed. You sound so much like a local clown called Unlucky Lou, any relations?
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
Brianna H
Horrified, I know you are going to get attacked by the other bloggers, but I agree with you 100%. I hate all of the personal attacks. It's ridiculous. This is a political matter, plain and simple. Every business owner wants and needs to make money. I don't fault them for that.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
Horrified by my Fellow PV Residents
I am so tired of all the personal attacks on the Fain Family. They own land and are trying to use their resources the way they want to. They are being relatively clear about their intentions and have requested a specific action from the Town of PV and asked that it be voted upon by the citizens of PV. They will either get it or they won't. I will voice my opinion when I am given the opportunity to vote.
However, it disgusts me that the "respectable" residents of Prescott Valley have found it necessary to make such ugly, derogatory comments about the Fain Family personally over the last few weeks. Charging for Halloween candy, REALLY?! Which of all of you bloggers have freely given up your property for the community? My family doesn't enjoy Fain Park any less because they allegedly (I say allegedly because I don't have first hand knowledge of the event) received land in exchange. I don't enjoy Harkins Theater, the Sundogs Games, or any of the numerous businesses including the many restaurants and the grocery stores that the Fains have been involved in bringing to PV less because the Fain Family did profit or continue to profit from the transactions. I'm sure that all of the employees and business owners appreciate the establishments even more than I do as a mere patron. The individuals of the Fain Family have proven themselves decent people in many forums. In addition to their business activities, they have been and are currently involved in a variety of charitable organizations. It seems to me that the citizens of PV that oppose the potential private prison can do so in the political arena without the slurs against all the generations of a local family.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
Christopher J. Kraft
Do the Fains actually live in Prescott Valley?
I heard they have a ranch out in Williamson Valley. If true they are developing a town they no longer live in and their property values wouldn't be affected by a prison or whatever they put out there.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
tom -
Well the prison war is over for now and lets remember to work together agian. My fellow patriot soldiers are here to make PV better.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
Central AZ Dweller
Just say NO to annexing and rezoning this property. They've been forthright on why they want the town to annex and rezone, and the Town of Prescott Valley needs to remain adamant that we want no part of a prison. No to annexation, no to rezoning. Saying no to the Fains might be good for Prescott Valley. Prescott Valley needs to learn that the Fains may not always have the well-being of the town's other businesses and citizens in their plans.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
Sir Bosco Jones
Victor G asks, What the fains have given to the Town of PV. I have lived in PV for the past 19 years and to be honest I have not heard of one single thing the fains have given PV. A lot of people say they gave fain lake to PV, but the truth is it was a land swap for some land I believe was in the Verde Valley. Form what I have seen, every thing the fains do some how some way has a price tag attached. They fains only cost us the tax payers money as they profit. As far as Halloween Candy? I believe they keep the lights off so the kids go away.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
This deal is over
IMO trying to push for a prison appears a bit desperate on the Fain's part, and appearances are important when you're a land baron vying to sell land as your only major income source. Prisons should be built in the middle of nowhere and then a town can develop around them, not vice versa as they tried to do here. Because prisons mainly house thousands of thugs they don't really need to be near a town with regular folks living there. It isn't like a real business that employs lots of people. Unfortunately those types of businesses have not exactly flocked to either Prescott or PV. Now that the housing market is done with (probably for a generation at least) that does not make this area look real rosy enconomically anymore. Too bad, but a prison isn't going to fix it.
Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Article comment by:
Prescott Valley Resident
I think it's important that we all realize that the Fains feel "entitled." They still believe that they have the majority say in this town, and that they still own, and the land they have already sold, is still "theirs," because they have been in this area for so long. This area used to be exclusively their land. The optimal word phrase is "used to be." I am sure the Fains are hurting for money, just like the rest of us, but the Fains need to keep their financial issues in perspective to the actual suffering of others.
