Councils to consider moving state prison

Council members from Draper and Salt Lake County will consider resolutions today asking the state to consider moving the Utah State Prison.

A study commissioned by the state and released in November of 2005 found that moving the prison would be too costly, even taking into account the value of vacant state-owned land that could be sold if the prison moved.

Salt Lake County Councilman Jeff Allen believes rapidly growing development in Draper, plus an increase in land values, warrant taking another look at the figures. He represents Draper on the County Council and has worked with the city in drafting its resolution, he said.

The 57-year-old state prison currently sits at the Point of the Mountain in Draper, near Bluffdale. The state houses many violent offenders there but also houses prisoners in a Gunnison facility and in county jails statewide.

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