Latest news with #Lauritsen
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City leaders ‘would like to have a prison in Mitchell'
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Project Prison Reset's task force is recommending existing Department of Corrections facilities or the Worthing or Mitchell areas for new men's prison construction. Mitchell city leaders want the group to consider Davison County. City leaders from Mitchell said they've already gathered support when it comes to listing Davison County as a possible location. DOC: Contraband attempt stopped at State Penitentiary 'The chamber and development corporations both passed resolutions separately to bring a prison to Mitchell. The county commission has supported a prison in Mitchell,' Mitchell Chamber and Development CEO Mike Lauritsen said. The Mitchell City Council approved a resolution on Monday that expresses interest in having the facilities built in Davison County, citing the need to meet criminal justice system demands. Lauritsen hopes the city's efforts to inform the public about possible economic opportunities will set them apart from other potential sites. 'This would be huge for our community. That's why we've done all of this work. We want it to go to Mitchell,' Lauritsen said. 'I know there's been struggles in other communities, and I think that's the reason we've made these steps.' The proposed site is a couple miles south of town. Mitchell leaders said the location would have minimal impact on the community but would be close enough to offer rehabilitation resources to inmates. 'If you want to do rehab programs, we've got some of the best programs in the state right there,' Mitchell Area Housing President Terry Sabers told the task force Tuesday. 'Dakota Wesleyan University is there. If you want more advanced programs, they are another three miles away.' They also asked the task force to consider Mitchell's secondary water system. 'Having that secured, our vision plan ten years ago was to have enough water for 130 years plus growth. So, we are really well situated there,' Davison County Commissioner John Claggett said. There were no final decisions made at yesterday's task force meeting, but it did serve as another opportunity for input and consideration. 'We'd like to have a prison in Mitchell,' Lauritsen said. At Mitchell's city council meeting Monday night, some residents expressed concerns about community safety and increased crime if prison facilities are built there. On Wednesday afternoon, the Mitchell Development Corporation announced it will hold three community forums to discuss the proposed site. The organization said in a news release a Mitchell Prison Task Force, made up of city and county officials, community leaders and representatives from the Governor's office will hold the following forums: Tuesday, June 17th, 2025: In-person forum at Mitchell Technical College Auditorium, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18th, 2025: Virtual forum at 7:00 p.m. (Access links will be available on the City and Development Corporation websites) Tuesday, June 24, 2025: Community Debate at Dakota Wesleyan University, 5:30 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
10 things to know about a potential state prison site in Davison County
Jun. 4—MITCHELL — Great prisons come with great responsibility. The Mitchell City Council, during its regular meeting on June 2, unanimously approved a resolution expressing interest in the construction of a state correctional facility in Davison County. Here are 10 facts and questions discussed about the potential Mitchell prison site. No. 1: The city's resolution shows interest in the prison, but is non-binding The resolution was introduced by council member Tim Goldammer on the eve of a Project Prison Reset Task Force meeting to follow on Tuesday in Pierre. The resolution states that a correctional facility "would create significant economic opportunities, including the creation of stable, well-paying jobs, increased demand for local goods and services, and long-term infrastructure investments." In addition, the resolution cited interest in collaboration to ensure "public safety and community well-being" from local law enforcement, community leaders, the Davison County Commission and economic development organizations. The resolution also promises "open dialogue, careful planning and engagement with residents to ensure that concerns are heard and solutions are implemented." No. 2: A final prison decision will be made in July July 8 is to be the final meeting of the prison search commission, according to Lauritsen. Lauritsen says a special session of the South Dakota legislature will meet on July 22 in regards to the prison. No. 3: Wherever is chosen as a prison site will receive a boost in employee spending. Mitchell Area Development Corporation CEO Mike Lauritsen told the council that a prison will bring an estimated 441 new jobs with an annual payroll of $36.7 million and an average wage between $25 and $30 an hour. The annual operating budget for the new prison is estimated at $55 million per year. Lauritsen said a prison taking three to four years to build allows time to plan ways to address the state's second lowest unemployment rate, but did not go into specifics. "We have an opportunity in front of us to grow this community, for our businesses, for our housing developments," Lauritsen said. No. 4: A third-party ranked Mitchell fourth out of six potential prison sites. A study from Arizona-based Arrington Watkins Architects put the existing Lincoln County site owned by the South Dakota Department of Corrections as the top option. According to a Mitchell Area Development Corporation state prison proposal, a $2.88 million 160 acre potential prison site is located near the Mitchell Regional Landfill, and is owned by James River Farms. The location is outside of Mitchell city limits in Davison County. No. 5: According to Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson, those inmates who are from Mitchell will be released to Mitchell. Hanson addressed concerns about released prison inmates ending up in Mitchell, but did not have any official documents from the state promising that other parolees would not be released in Mitchell. Rehabilitation, space and counseling is a big expense for the state with a new prison site, according to Hanson, who says that the present state prison is overcapacity "As far as releasing prisoners, they're going to get paroled back to where they either got arrested originally, where they were tried, or into the larger cities," Hanson said. No. 6: The potential Mitchell site makes for an escape-friendly location. Davison County resident and Mitchell business man Scott Studer reminded the council that the South Dakota Department of Corrections wants the prison site to be away from Interstate 90, a highway, and a waterway. "We just put it at the corner of Jim River, I-90 and Highway 37," he said. "So good luck trying to get them to go for that." No. 7: Davison County residents are concerned that property taxes may rise. Davison County resident Michelle Studer said she lives within 2 miles of the proposed Mitchell site. "You're taking 160 acres out of the tax rolls," Michelle Studer said, "because I'm assuming that the prison is tax exempt. Where's that money going to come from?" No. 8: Davison County residents are concerned that they don't have a say in denying or approving the potential prison site. Mitchell resident Dwight Stadler expressed many concerns, the theme of which is that the prison would increase property taxes in Davison County. "Davison County voters should have a say on a ballot," Stadler said. No. 9. The construction itself will cost almost $1 billion, according to Lauritsen. The $825 million prison built could be placed near another high-cost construction site in Davison County. To put this in perspective, the High Plains Processing soybean plant south of Mitchell, still under construction, is estimated to cost about $500 million. In comparison to the proposed 160-acre prison site, the soybean plant sits on 148 acres. 10. City leaders acknowledge the prison is a dividing topic. Hanson and Lauritsen urged residents to not get heated during the night's discussions. "If we're eliminated (from consideration), we fight (over) nothing. We divide this community for nothing," Lauritsen said. Lauritsen offered to field any questions and pass them on to the South Dakota Governor's Office.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AP Exclusive: US meatpacking workers win back pensions in new union contract with JBS
U.S. meatpacking workers are getting their first new pension plan in nearly 40 years under a contract agreement between JBS, one of the world's largest meat companies, and an American labor union. The United Food and Commercial Workers union said Thursday that 26,000 meatpacking workers at 14 JBS facilities would be eligible for the pension plan. The new contract, which was ratified by workers this week, also adds paid sick leave, wage increases and new plant safety measures. 'This contract, everything that was achieved, really starts to paint the picture of what everybody would like to have: long-term stable jobs that are a benefit for the employees, a benefit for the employers and a benefit for the community they operate in,' Mark Lauritsen, the head of the UFCW's meatpacking and food processing division, told The Associated Press in an interview. Brazil-based JBS said the pension plan reflected its commitment to its workforce and the rural communities in which it operates. 'We are confident that the significant wage increases over the life of the contracts and the opportunity of a secure retirement through our pension plan will create a better future for the men and women who work with us at JBS,' the company said in a statement. Lauritsen said pension plans used to be standard in the meatpacking industry but were cut in the 1980s as companies consolidated. Big meat companies like Tyson Foods and Cargill now offer 401 (k) plans but not pensions. The union started discussing a return to pensions a few years ago as a way to help companies hang on to their workers, according to Lauritsen. 'The good thing about a 401 (k) is that it's portable, but the bad thing about a 401 (k) is that it's portable,' he said. 'This was a way to capture and retain people who were moving from plant to plant, chasing an extra dime or a quarter.' Workers hailed the plan. 'Everything now is very expensive and it's hard to save money for retirement, so this gives us security,' said Thelma Cruz, a union steward with JBS at a pork plant in Marshalltown, Iowa. A return to pensions is unusual but not unheard of in the private sector. IBM reopened its frozen pension plan in 2023. The contract increases average pay for meatpacking workers to $23 to $24 per hour and establishes safety and ergonomic committees at every plant. Paid sick leave — which rival Tyson Foods began offering in 2021 — was also hailed by workers in an industry devastated by the COVID pandemic. The move could also help JBS in its effort to burnish its image ahead of a potential U.S. stock offering. The company has wanted to list its share in both Brazil and New York for years, but has been thwarted by lawmakers, environmental groups and others who are concerned about its history of corruption and environmental damage. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved JBS's application to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange last month, and the company's shareholders are scheduled to vote on the listing Friday. But Lauritsen said the stock listing was never discussed during negotiations with the UFCW, and the union has no position on the listing. 'JBS is on a journey and we're going to keep pushing them right along,' he said. 'We're starting to see an employer that's committed to long-term, stable jobs that help the worker and the community.'
San Francisco Chronicle
22-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
AP Exclusive: US meatpacking workers win back pensions in new union contract with JBS
U.S. meatpacking workers are getting their first new pension plan in nearly 40 years under a contract agreement between JBS, one of the world's largest meat companies, and an American labor union. The United Food and Commercial Workers union said Thursday that 26,000 meatpacking workers at 14 JBS facilities would be eligible for the pension plan. The new contract, which was ratified by workers this week, also adds paid sick leave, wage increases and new plant safety measures. 'This contract, everything that was achieved, really starts to paint the picture of what everybody would like to have: long-term stable jobs that are a benefit for the employees, a benefit for the employers and a benefit for the community they operate in,' Mark Lauritsen, the head of the UFCW's meatpacking and food processing division, told The Associated Press in an interview. Brazil-based JBS said the pension plan reflected its commitment to its workforce and the rural communities in which it operates. 'We are confident that the significant wage increases over the life of the contracts and the opportunity of a secure retirement through our pension plan will create a better future for the men and women who work with us at JBS,' the company said in a statement. Lauritsen said pension plans used to be standard in the meatpacking industry but were cut in the 1980s as companies consolidated. Big meat companies like Tyson Foods and Cargill now offer 401 (k) plans but not pensions. The union started discussing a return to pensions a few years ago as a way to help companies hang on to their workers, according to Lauritsen. 'The good thing about a 401 (k) is that it's portable, but the bad thing about a 401 (k) is that it's portable,' he said. 'This was a way to capture and retain people who were moving from plant to plant, chasing an extra dime or a quarter.' Workers hailed the plan. 'Everything now is very expensive and it's hard to save money for retirement, so this gives us security,' said Thelma Cruz, a union steward with JBS at a pork plant in Marshalltown, Iowa. A return to pensions is unusual but not unheard of in the private sector. IBM reopened its frozen pension plan in 2023. The contract increases average pay for meatpacking workers to $23 to $24 per hour and establishes safety and ergonomic committees at every plant. Paid sick leave — which rival Tyson Foods began offering in 2021 — was also hailed by workers in an industry devastated by the COVID pandemic. The move could also help JBS in its effort to burnish its image ahead of a potential U.S. stock offering. The company has wanted to list its share in both Brazil and New York for years, but has been thwarted by lawmakers, environmental groups and others who are concerned about its history of corruption and environmental damage. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved JBS's application to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange last month, and the company's shareholders are scheduled to vote on the listing Friday. But Lauritsen said the stock listing was never discussed during negotiations with the UFCW, and the union has no position on the listing. 'JBS is on a journey and we're going to keep pushing them right along,' he said. 'We're starting to see an employer that's committed to long-term, stable jobs that help the worker and the community.'
The Hill
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
AP Exclusive: US meatpacking workers win back pensions in new union contract with JBS
U.S. meatpacking workers are getting their first new pension plan in nearly 40 years under a contract agreement between JBS, one of the world's largest meat companies, and an American labor union. The United Food and Commercial Workers union said Thursday that 26,000 meatpacking workers at 14 JBS facilities would be eligible for the pension plan. The new contract, which was ratified by workers this week, also adds paid sick leave, wage increases and new plant safety measures. 'This contract, everything that was achieved, really starts to paint the picture of what everybody would like to have: long-term stable jobs that are a benefit for the employees, a benefit for the employers and a benefit for the community they operate in,' Mark Lauritsen, the head of the UFCW's meatpacking and food processing division, told The Associated Press in an interview. Brazil-based JBS said the pension plan reflected its commitment to its workforce and the rural communities in which it operates. 'We are confident that the significant wage increases over the life of the contracts and the opportunity of a secure retirement through our pension plan will create a better future for the men and women who work with us at JBS,' the company said in a statement. Lauritsen said pension plans used to be standard in the meatpacking industry but were cut in the 1980s as companies consolidated. Big meat companies like Tyson Foods and Cargill now offer 401 (k) plans but not pensions. The union started discussing a return to pensions a few years ago as a way to help companies hang on to their workers, according to Lauritsen. 'The good thing about a 401 (k) is that it's portable, but the bad thing about a 401 (k) is that it's portable,' he said. 'This was a way to capture and retain people who were moving from plant to plant, chasing an extra dime or a quarter.' Workers hailed the plan. 'Everything now is very expensive and it's hard to save money for retirement, so this gives us security,' said Thelma Cruz, a union steward with JBS at a pork plant in Marshalltown, Iowa. A return to pensions is unusual but not unheard of in the private sector. IBM reopened its frozen pension plan in 2023. The contract increases average pay for meatpacking workers to $23 to $24 per hour and establishes safety and ergonomic committees at every plant. Paid sick leave — which rival Tyson Foods began offering in 2021 — was also hailed by workers in an industry devastated by the COVID pandemic. The move could also help JBS in its effort to burnish its image ahead of a potential U.S. stock offering. The company has wanted to list its share in both Brazil and New York for years, but has been thwarted by lawmakers, environmental groups and others who are concerned about its history of corruption and environmental damage. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved JBS's application to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange last month, and the company's shareholders are scheduled to vote on the listing Friday. But Lauritsen said the stock listing was never discussed during negotiations with the UFCW, and the union has no position on the listing. 'JBS is on a journey and we're going to keep pushing them right along,' he said. 'We're starting to see an employer that's committed to long-term, stable jobs that help the worker and the community.'
