Traverse City, MI – (Great Lakes Radio News) – A Traverse City lawmaker is blasting the decision to close a northern Lower Michigan prison.
Republican State Senator Wayne Schmidt says the announced closing of the Pugsley Correctional Facility in Kingsley is a mistake and will have a deep negative impact on the community.
The 1300-bed facility employs 230 workers in Grand Traverse County and is being closed in September to save $22 million dollars in the next fiscal year.
The state says the closing is due to lower inmate numbers and continued budget trimming.
Schmidt says he is very disappointed with the decision to close the facility and that the move is extremely shortsighted.
