PRISON CREWS, TRAVERSE CITY, MICH. (AP) (wgvu) - A COST-CUTTING MOVE TO IDLE MORE
THAN 15-HUNDRED STATE PRISON INMATES WHO CUT GRASS, SHOVEL SNOW AND
PERFORM OTHER WORK COULD AFFECT DOZENS OF HIKING TRAILS AND STREAMS
IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN.
THE GRAND TRAVERSE CONSERVATION DISTRICT HAS BEEN USING PRISON
CREWS FOR STREAM RESTORATION PROJECTS FOR 23 YEARS.
BUT EFFECTIVE AUGUST 17TH, PUBLIC WORK CONTRACTS BETWEEN PRISONS
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL BE CANCELED.
CONSERVATION OFFICIALS SAY PRISON CREWS HAVE DONE OUTSTANDING
WORK ALL OVER THE REGION, FROM A TRAIL SYSTEM TO BANK STABILIZATION
PROJECTS ALONG THE BOARDMAN AND MANISTEE RIVERS.
A MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SPOKESMAN SAYS THE DECISION
TO END WORK CREWS WASN'T DESIRABLE BUT UNAVOIDABLE GIVEN STATE
GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET PROBLEMS.

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