A prison to no where in Illinois

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1885521,CST-NWS-gitbox15.article

$140 mil. prison little used since it was built in '01

November 15, 2009

The state-of-the-art Thomson Correctional Center was to have been one of the final pieces of a prison building boom under former Republican Governors Jim Edgar and George Ryan.

Launched by Edgar, Thomson cost $140 million to build and was ready for its first prisoner in 2001. But Ryan kept its doors closed because the state could not afford to staff it as state revenues began a steep decline after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. snip

A full-time engineer was assigned to staff the unopened prison and to make sure all systems are working -- with one task being to flush toilets to keep the prison's plumbing systems in working order.