Mayor’s Column December 7, 2024
Rohn Bishop, Mayor of Waupun
Hello Waupun,
Since the news of the arrests at Waupun Correctional back in May, and the fallout that occurred in June, things have really quieted down with corrections issues. Largely because everyone became focused on the election, and then the holidays. This seems like a good time for me to update what’s happened regarding the relationship between corrections and the city of Waupun.
First, pushing back against closing Waupun and calling attention to what WCI means to Waupun, both as our cultural heritage and economy worked. I have heard from several legislators who admitted they had no idea we cared about the prison so much. They didn’t know it’s the oldest prison in Wisconsin, that Waupun donated the land to bring it here, that we had generation after generation of people who worked there, that our churches had outreach to the inmates, that our first responders and local government leaders participate in training exercises with corrections staff for different scenarios, or that we have quarterly meetings with the wardens, the mayor, local residents and law enforcement. Many of them just didn’t appreciate that WCI is a part of our community.
When former Governor Tommy Thompson visited Waupun back in October, he mentioned that he read and appreciated both my mayor’s column and the op-ed I wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal, and was proud of Waupun for sticking up for itself and fighting to keep WCI operatering. And honestly, I thought that was pretty cool!
Now that the new legislature is in place to take over in early January, and they’ll begin work on the next state budget, it’ll again be time to lobby for Waupun. We have had success in the past. Just as we’ve raised awareness to what WCI means to Waupun, back in my first term, we, along with other cities, successfully lobbied for an increase in state shared revenues. So, while this will be a big task, I think we’re up for it.
My insider Madison friends tell me I should pivot from tying to keep WCI open, to trying to get the new prison built here in Waupun, because WCI is old… But so is the State Capitol building. So why is the Capitol in such great shape at 107 years of age? Because politicians like investing in their workplace. They like showing off to friends and family the cool, historic, and beautiful building they have the privilege to work in. No expense is too great. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s they went from wing to wing of the Capitol gutting it and rebuilding it, because the building means so much to them, and to Madison, and to Wisconsin, that it was worth it. And they were right to do so.
Also in Madison is the Department of Corrections Central Offices, a building the sate massively over pays rent on, and maintains annually. They could build a new office building for what they’re spending on that place, why don’t they? Because they want to be in Madison.
So why not invest into WCI? The visitor center is already fairly new, the water plant is new (even thought it’s not working correctly) and the building isn’t in bad shape because it’s old, it’s because the state wants a new one so bad, they haven’t been maintaining it correctly.
Did you know in some areas, employees have to cover their computers when it rains because the roof leaks? Why doesn’t the state fix the roof? The cell halls aren’t as nice as many would like. Why not go one cell hall at a time, and rebuild or build new within the footprint of WCI?
WCI’s deteriorating condition has been a choice. Just like they invested in the Capitol, they can choose to invest in WCI.
Will investing into WCI be cheap? No. But building a new prison will cost a billion dollars, and there are many cost effective ways to keep WCI functioning without having to shutter the building and build new. It can be a safer place for staff to work, and a nicer place for inmates to be housed, and WCI can continue it’s legacy for another century. We just need legislators to care about WCI as much as they care about Madison.
Lastly, the push to close Green Bay correctional is real, because the local government up there wants the land for economic development. To justify closing it, they keep bringing WCI into the discussion. I’ve stressed we’re two different cities with different goals and different relationships with our respected prisons.
Saving Waupun in Waupun is worth fighting for, and I will be doing so this next year!
Thank you and God Bless,
Mayor Rohn
