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Department of Juvenile Justice Votes to Close Bill E. Ireland YDC
Adam Hammond
Story Created:
Sep 10, 2009 at 8:02 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Sep 10, 2009 at 10:37 PM CDT
The Georgia Juvenile Justice Board approving a budget that could potentially have devastating impacts on a local community.
Milledgeville residents say the closure of the Bill Ireland Youth Development Center will have a huge negative impact on Middle Georgia.
In a ten to three vote Thursday the states Juvenile Justice Board approved a budget that orders the closure of The Bill Ireland Youth Development Campus in Milledgeville.
"I think it's devastating to the community. We've lost jobs at Rheem. We've lost jobs at Shaw the carpet plant that was here, and now we're losing jobs at YDC," said Milledgeville Resident Bryan Jackson.
Around 400 people are employed at the YDC, and Department of Juvenile Justice Spokesman Steve Hayes says it was chosen for closure because it's over a hundred years old and very costly to operate.
"Anytime you lose a business everyone suffers. The family suffers, the businesses in town suffer, and the education system suffers because we need these things to continue operating our school and businesses," said Milledgeville resident Barbara Boone.
Hayes says the fate of Bill Ireland now rests on the shoulders of the governor's office who will approve or reject the 288 million dollar budget.
"Governor, you've got to look at the devastating economic impacts we've had here in Milledgeville. You need to realize this facility is a core of our economic base and he has control over it," said Jackson.
"There still is a slim glimmer of hope that the governor will chose some other method of making the necessary budget cuts without closing Bill Ireland," said State Senator Johnny Grant.
Grant says the Department of Juvenile Justice has endorsed a plan to add a new 150 bed YDC located in southern Baldwin County, and the governor will be looking at this option as well.
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