There were passionate pleas for and against bringing a proposed provincial prison into the community at a public meeting on Monday evening.
The meeting, organized by the municipality and with presenters from the B.C. Corrections Service, was designed to give information about the proposed $200 million facility.
The forum was also a time for Summerlanders to raise their concerns about the facility.
“Summerland needs this,” said Steve Dunsdon. “Summerland needs some help all the way down the line.”
Mike Holler asked for open-mindedness about the proposed facility.
“I’m always concerned when I come to these things,” he said. “There’s a lot of fear mongering. We’re scared of the people who are coming in.”
Holler said the facility would bring younger people to the community and it would have an effect on the region, no matter which Okanagan community is eventually chosen to house it.
Todd Gilliard, the developer of Sedona Heights, said the prison will have an effect on property values. One of the proposed locations is near his subdivision and he is concerned about the effects of the prison on his properties.
Susan Watkins, a Summerland Secondary School student, said she is concerned about the reputation the correctional facility will bring to the community.
“Speaking on behalf of my generation, we don’t want to see our town be known as a prison town,” she said.
Juergen Dittmann questioned the value of the jobs a prison would bring to the community.
“I personally would not want my children working in a correctional facility,” he said. “I think my children can do better than that.”
John Barber said the effect of the facility must be considered, since it would be the largest employer in Summerland.
“How does one sell this town beyond this facility,” he asked. “This proposition closes more doors than it opens.”
Stephanie Seaton said the prison would not be a good idea for the community, but once it is in place, it would be permanent.
“I would advise people to do some research on this,” she said.
“It will affect this community forever.”
But Peter Waterman believes there is a significant benefit from the prison.
He said it would bring a 25 per cent increase to Summerland’s property tax base, allowing the municipality to keep property taxes low.
The provincial government will later make the decision of which Okanagan community will host the prison.
The facility will be built by 2015.