“Many people don’t want a prison, but they want the jobs that it will bring. It could be a tough sell,” the Mayor pointed out.
“Whose side are you on?” I asked him.
“I’m on the side that is best for Salvation. Right now, this prison is going to bring in jobs for our people. Not everyone is a farmer in Salvation. Not only will it bring jobs and tax revenue, but it’ll also bring in more income from families visiting inmates, eating at our restaurants and staying in our hotels.”
I didn’t care about that. “I’m going to form a coalition to oppose-”
“You’re a county employee, Sinclair. You need to be careful about-”
“A committee then. I want to study the impact this prison will have on landowners and the town. Trina, can you call down to the permit office to get a copy of plans and any environmental studies already done?”
“Sure thing.”
“I also want to see a list of all property Stark is targeting and if possible what he’s bought or is in the process of buying already.”
The mayor put his arm on my shoulder. “It’s good to be passionate about your community, Sinclair. Just remember that not everyone agrees with you on what’s best for it. When you run for mayor, it’s not just about you.”
“I know. But Salvation is a farming community. It’s a part of our heritage. That has to mean something even to the non-farming families.” I turned to Trina. “Let me know when you have the information. I’m going to get started on these families we already know about.”
“Will do,” Trina said with a salute.
I headed to my office, aware that Mayor Valentine was following me,
no doubt to impart more wisdom. I appreciated his mentorship, even if I had the distinct feeling that his interest in me was more than platonic. Not that he was inappropriate with me. He just had a way of looking at me that suggested interest. Fortunately, he understood that we couldn’t be together because he was my boss. I liked him well enough, but not as a potential love interest. I didn’t like anyone well enough for that. I had too much else going on in my life to be involved with a man.
Funny how life could change. There was a time that I thought I had everything all planned out. I’d get my degree and spend my life in Salvation with Wyatt. I supposed two out of three wasn’t bad. I had my degree and I was in Salvation. I’d even secured a great job, one that was the stepping stone I needed to someday fulfill my dream of becoming mayor. Lucky for me, Mayor Valentine, didn’t feel threatened by me, which was strange because he was young. It wasn’t like he was an old man ready to retire. Perhaps his interest in me was what kept him from seeing me as a threat.
My job was fulfilling, helping support Salvation. But he was right. Farming, especially family farming, seemed to be dying out. On the one hand, I understood that the march of progress couldn’t be stopped. It would have been stupid to continue to fight for harness and buggy makers with the invention of cars and trucks. But farming was about food and other resources we relied on to live. People needed to eat more than they needed another prison.
“I admire your dedication to the farmers of Salvation,” the mayor said once I reached my desk.
“But you don’t think I should fight this prison?”
“I think a committee to look into the impact this will have on Salvation is a good idea. I can tell you, a similar report has already been done-”
“Paid for by the prison organization, I’m sure.”
His lips twitched up in the way they did when he was amused by my spunk. “It proves the point I was making earlier. We can always skew data and information to support what we want. As leaders of Salvation, what we want matters less than what the community wants. Give them the information, but they decide, Sinclair. It’s possible they’ll want this prison.”
“So, the farmers, the one who built this town, they’re out of luck because they’re outnumbered?”
“Maybe. You said it before, people need to eat. This prison will hire many more people than the farms do. Those people need to feed their families too.”
I hated that he was right. “I’m not backing off.”
“I know. But you need to consider all sides of an issue. Farming may have built this town, but not everyone is a farmer. You need to keep them in mind as well.”
“Is that all?”
He laughed. “Never get in the way of a woman on a mission. I’ll leave you to it.” He exited my office.
I sat in my chair knowing he was right. Maybe it was time for Salvation to move forward and away from farming. But not with a prison. There were plenty of other places in Nebraska that could house a prison. If Salvation needed to look at alternative industries, locking people up wasn’t going to be it.
A little while later, Trina knocked on my door. “I’ve got a list of farms that surround the area of the farms we know have been approached. I don’t know that these are on Stark’s list to buy, but they could be based on proximity.”
I took the list and reviewed it. My heart had a little extra beat when I saw the name Jones on the list. I’d never forgotten Wyatt. For a long time, I was angry and hurt at how he simply left. Later, perhaps because of age and learning more about his father, I could see how he needed to escape Salvation. I hoped he was happy.
Rumor was his father left his wife, which could make her property a prime target for Mr. Stark. With her husband and son gone, would she want to continue to farm or would she see this as a chance to take off too?