Fredericktown officials want to be in the running for a new maximum security prison which may be constructed in Missouri in the near future.

The city in Madison County has submitted a number of prison proposals over the past two years -- one in 1993 and a second in 1994 for a new women's prison which eventually went to Vandalia in April of 1995, and another proposal for a facility to house high-security male prisoners which went to Bonne Terre in May of 1995.

Competition will be plentiful for new prison facilities. A number of groups and communities in Southeast Missouri have indicated they will file proposals for a $73 million facility which will provide 400 jobs and a $9.1 million payroll.

These include the Stoddard County Industrial Development Authority, which will pitch three sites for consideration, the Mississippi County IDA, and the cities of Fredericktown, Kennett, Steele and Malden.

Many more applications will be submitted statewide.

Applications are due to the state by 10 a.m. on March 24.

The state wants a site of no less than 85 acres of land, with the desired amount in the 200-acre range.

Construction of the prison, which will house about 1,500 inmates, could get under way in 1998, with completion expected by 2000.

Gov. Mel Carnahan, in his recent State of the State address, announced an ambitious construction campaign to spend $146 million on two new prisons in the state.

By July 1, start of Missouri's new budget year, the Missouri Department of Corrections projects that it will have 23,010 convicts under lock and key, and 52,899 people on probation or parole -- status that at least requires checking in regularly by phone.

The state's current prison population is 21,629. Projections are that 29,005 prisoners will be behind Missouri prison walls at the turn of the century.

"We're back to the drawing board for a new facility now," said Fredericktown Mayor William Powell. "We already have a site and it fits into the prerequisites established by the state."

Fredericktown was one of five finalists for a 500-bed women's prison. And the city was one of three final sites for the men's prison which will open in Bonne Terre next year and will house more than 1800 inmates and employ about 600.

The newest Fredericktown application will include the same site, just north of town.

"We can provide the necessary acreage needed by the state," said Powell. "And we have the support of a number of counties for the newest facility." Officials from Wayne, Iron, Reynolds and Bollinger counties have pledged support.

A public meeting to discuss the proposal will be held Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Middle School in Fredericktown.

"We had almost 100 percent support from the public during the past proposals," said Powell. "Hopefully it will be that way again."

The Stoddard County IDA is mounting a county-wide effort to attract a facility.

"We hope to submit three sites in our proposal," said Bill Aslin, IDA president. One of the sites is the Stoddard County Farm, located south of Bloomfield along Highway 25.

Stoddard County owns about 130 acres, and the IDA is looking at land options.

"We're also looking at a couple of other potential sites," said Aslin.

Bloomfield applied for a prison facility about a decade ago.

The area didn't show big public support at that time, but Aslin feels that this time around, feelings have changed.

The IDA includes representatives from a number of communities in Stoddard County.

Comprising the 10-member IDA board are Aslin; Mayor R. B. Woods of Bernie; Jeff Holloway of Puxico; Tim Nesler of Bell city; Diane Crites of Essex; Jim Rainey of Advance; Mac Mullins, Dudley; and Janet Coleman, Jim Smyth and John Pruitt of Dexter.

Another countywide effort has been launched by the Mississippi County IDA.

"We're looking for a site," said Betty Hearnes of Charleston, chairman of the IDA. "Charleston has a site in mind, and we're looking throughout the county."

Steele officials have received pledges of support from many Pemiscot County communities. The small community also has the support of the Pemiscot County Commission.

The proposed site at Steel is the Steele Municipal Airport, located on Highway 164. Steele Mayor Eddie Jarboe said as much as 400 acres of land was available.

The Steele Chamber of Commerce has started a membership campaign to help attract a new prison.

"We are going to definitely apply," said Jim Baker, executive director of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce. "We don't have a site nailed down, but will have by the application deadline."

Perry County officials attended the RFP (Request for Proposal) meeting at Jefferson City, but will not submit a proposal at this time.