Administrators of the Labette Correctional Conservation Camp at Oswego are performing final tasks as they look at a closing date of June 30.
Administrator Tom Bringle and LCCC program director Terry Edwards gave a report at Monday’s regular meeting of the Labette County Commission saying no more work crews are being sent out. These work crews have always been a helpful resource for local communities and civic organizations for performing manual labor tasks.
Bringle said the camp staff is continuing with vacations and several have already left their LCCC employment. “That has really slowed us down,” said Bringle. “We are able to do what we need to do, and that’s about all.”
Commissioners last week discussed applying for a justice assistance grant and gave Bringle approval to make application for an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant which is part of the Federal Recovery Act. The amount of the grant application is still unknown but will be announced by the federal agency, if the grant is accepted.
Bringle and commissioners previously have said receiving such a grant might provide a glimmer of hope that the men’s camp could remain open. However many details and approval from the Kansas Department of Corrections would need to be worked out.
The deadline for submitting the grant application is June 16 and Bringle expressed hopes that it will be completed later this week.
Commission Chairman Lonie Addis said he planned to set up a meeting with KDOC officials, commission counselor Fred Johnson and the three commissioners in Topeka to go over numerous issues surrounding the camp closing. For example, there are inventory issues, supplies and equipment, records archiving and storage, maintenance expenses and other issues that need clarified.
Addis said he attended a meeting of a local task force in Oswego last Friday to discuss various options which the county and the community might exercise once the camp closes for sure. Members of that task force are looking into various ways the camp property might be utilized in order to keep it a productive community asset.
Representatives attended the meeting from the offices of U.S. Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts and U.S. Representative Lynn Jenkins.
Addis said the task force meeting went well. “We need their support on the grant application,” he said.
Bringle said the final graduation of inmates will be June 19. The staff will spend their last days making final reports and closing out accounts before the facility is vacated on June 30.