ACC cuts ribbon on new home at old hospital

ACC cuts ribbon on new home at old hospital

Former Crittenden Regional’s transformation to community corrections center complete

news@theeveningtimes.com The East Central Arkansas Community Corrections Center drew a big crowd and cut the ribbon marking the official opening in the old county hospital building. An audience of about 130 was on hand to hear about the quick transformation of the county hospital building that landed the ACC in West Memphis.

While the hospital had been licensed for 150 beds, the ACC plans call for a bigger population in the building. Residents began moving in from the closing Pine Bluff facility in mid June. There are now 311 convicted nonviolent women felons receiving intensive rehabilitation at the facility. Astaff representing 140 new local jobs is set to handle the 350 beds currently available. When remodeling finishes on the third floor, where the June 2014 hospital fire started, the building may house more than 500.

Each of the old hospital rooms house from four to nine minimum security inmates. The big rooms in the old maternity wing are bunked all the way around. The old operating rooms are now set as classrooms. What was the emergency room entrance is now used for intake and ACC employees come and go through the south door.

The new facility is bigger and better suited to rehabilitative function than the campus styled facility in Pine Bluff. From the first tour by the ACC to scout the building to the ribbon cutting

Monday covered a short 8 month facility transformation.

Director Sheila Sharp touted the residential treatment program during the dedication of the new center

Photos by John Rech

Officials expressed delight at the cutting of the orange Department of Community Corrections ribbon dedicating the new East Central Arkansas Community Corrections Center in West Memphis. The delight was heard in the positive speeches and seen on the faces of the dignitaries during the ceremony. State Board of Corrections Chair Benny Magness slices the ribbon as ACC director Sheila Sharp, Center Supervisor Phyllis SIlas, ACC Chief Deputy Director Kevin Murphy, Judge Woody Wheeless, State Representative Milton Nicks and State Senator Keith Ingram enjoyed the moment. and pointed to all the work behind the quick move.

“I welcome you to celebrate quality of life enhancement for women in this residential treatment facility,” said Sharp. “Who would have dreamed that a State agency and a county government could have come together in such a short period of time to negotiate an agreement, to clear all the hurdles, receive all the applicable approvals — none more critical than the acceptance of the surrounding community — and to renovate the facility. Quite frankly we are excited to show what off what has been accomplished.”

Judge Woody Wheeless also marveled at the intergovernmental cooperation leading up to the opening ceremony. He said it he knew from the first prospective tour the new relationship between Crittenden County and the ACC was a tailor made opportunity to put the vacant hospital to good use.

“When I walked the building with Center Supervisor Phyllis Silas, I knew immediately this was the right fit for this facility and the right fit for the County,” said Wheeless. “I was exited then about the project and I’m still excited today. When you see all that has happened in a short amount of time and you have people that say that governments can’t work together; this is a prime example that governments can work together in a short period of time. It wouldn’t have happened without community support.”

State Senator Keith Ingram and Representative Milton Nicks noted community support after some initial vocal opposition but called the ACC moving into the hospital left vacant from the Crittenden Memorial Hospital bankruptcy a big win.

“This was a win, win, win,” said Ingram. “We had a chance to fill a functionally obsolete building, created jobs for Crittenden County, and an opportunity for people committed to changing their lives.

“I believe people thought there’d be towers with search lights and machine gun nests set up. But they were quickly dispelled of that notion by the professional presentation of Deputy Director Kevin Murphy. That was key to making our community comfortable with it.”

“I thank the ACC for being determined to come,” said Nicks. “I thank the citizens of this community for trusting the elected officials to do the right thing for our community. You can see right now this is the right thing. It benefits the ACC program but also our county in a tremendous way. We are grateful to have you here.”

Photos Submitted

By John Rech