ACC relocation bid goes to Governor

ACC relocation bid goes to Governor

Hutchinson receives for-mal request to move center to West Memphis

news@theeveningtimes.com

The Quorum Court approved the plan. The Arkansas Department of Community Corrections has given it the green light. Now, Governor Asa Hutchinson has received a formal request to relocate the Arkansas Community Correction Center currently located in Pine Bluff to West Memphis.

The center, if approved, would occupy the vacant former home of Crittenden Regional Hospital, closed since August 2014 after the hospital declared bankruptcy and shut down. The ACC sent the request to Gov. Hutchinson Wednesday.

Hutchinson did not immediately sign off on the move, relaying that he needs more time to gather information about the plan before giving his approval.

“The governor’s most concerned with the employees there in Pine Bluff,” said Hutchinson spokesman J.R. Davis. He indicated Hutchinson “will make his decision after he’s presented with a plan on those employees and their job opportunities (once the center relocates).”

ACC Deputy Director, Dina Tyler, said that plans to move Pine Bluff workers to other positions, either near Pine Bluff or relocated to West Memphis, were already underway and that she was in the process of putting together a written report for the governor concerning the displaced employees.

By the Evening Times News Staff