$60K spent on Red Wing prison conference room

An $11,000, high-definition audio/video teleconferencing system. A $4,300, 58-inch plasma screen TV for "talking head viewing." A $3,400 interactive tablet.

The high-tech amenities of a multinational corporation?

No. It's the warden's conference room at Minnesota's juvenile prison in Red Wing.

Work was recently completed on a remodeling of the conference room that included $60,000 in new electronics, funded by what the Department of Corrections said was "end of year savings due to responsible management of the budget."

Coming at a time of major state budget cuts and layoffs in other state departments, the Red Wing project has drawn criticism from some state workers, who suggest the money could have gone to improve security surveillance; and from several legislators, some of whom suggested the renovations are excessive and that the construction should be investigated.

The prison defends the upgrade, saying the conference room will be used as "a facility incident command center" in the event of an emergency and as a place for offenders to visit remotely with family members who can't make it to Red Wing in person. It may be part of a larger transition in which government agencies step up use of audio and video conferencing to cut down on travel and improve efficiency.

Yet with budgets tight, office remodels in state buildings are coming under scrutiny. Earlier this year, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson faced criticism for installing $15,000 doors in her office after a security assessment suggested she was vulnerable. After reviewing some documents on the prison remodel, Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, who called for the Legislative Auditor to investigate Swanson's doors, said he would contact Corrections Commissioner Joan Fabian to get a better understanding of the Red Wing project.

"It sounds like the White House situation room pales in comparison to this," said Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, vice chairman of the House State Government Finance Committee, which oversees state department spending. If a prison is saving money, it should go back into the General Fund, rather than being hoarded for pet projects, Winkler said.

"It's hard to justify in any circumstance, but it's jarring to do it now when schools are getting huge funding cuts and we've eliminated health care for people making less than $8,000 a year," he said. "They are a protected, favored agency without a lot of accountability to the public."

Old buildings, new trends

Nestled in the bluffs framing the Mississippi River just south of Red Wing, the castlelike administration building of the juvenile prison is 120 years old. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the building presents challenges for renovation, prison officials said. In a memo justifying the remodeling, Warden Otis Zanders said the renovation was required because of current technology, energy, security and preservation needs.

The old room had a capacity of only 10 people, and the prison is often used for conferences and meetings for other groups in the community. The prison and Hennepin County now coordinate teleconferencing as juvenile offenders prepare to re-enter the community.

An invoice for the electronics includes a $2,400 projector, a $1,600 recessed electric screen, a wireless 6-inch $2,500 touch panel and a $4,100 bill for installation and training from Tierney Brothers Inc., a Minneapolis provider of audio/video and teleconferencing systems. Tierney was selected from a group of approved state vendors without a competitive bid.

The Department of Corrections has been using teleconferencing for at least 15 years, including parole hearings for prisoners with life sentences, discipline hearings and staff training. All equipment in the department is compatible and upgraded when the department sees an opportunity. Red Wing's previous equipment was 10 years old and the remodel was a chance to upgrade, department officials said.

"Teleconferencing saves staff time, reduces travel expenses and helps limit state and personal vehicle usage. It also helps reduce offender transports and associated security issues," said Burt, the spokeswoman.

Costs questioned

Winkler, the state legislator, said the argument may sound reasonable but does not make sense if the cost of the equipment is excessive.

Hann said, "I certainly am in favor of taking a hard look at these things and making sure they are done appropriately. If this is being done to satisfy the desire of a local official that's trying to do things and it's excessive and isn't necessary, no matter what the costs, then we shouldn't do those things."

Rep. Joyce Peppin, R-Rogers, another member of the House State Government Finance Committee, received an anonymous complaint about the remodeling from a state worker. She asked Gov. Tim Pawlenty's office for an explanation of the project but said it is difficult to do proper oversight from the State Capitol.

"We need to do everything we can to maximize technology and make sure we have a secure facility. When you are not in the field, it's hard to make a judgment call as to whether that's a valid argument or not," she said.