A 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline passed without the filing of a petition to request a vote on a new federal prison in Adams County.

Charles Wheat issued a written statement on behalf of the Concerned Citizens of Adams County late Tuesday saying the group failed to get the 1,500 signatures necessary to request the vote.

Two companies are interested in building a federal prison on the outskirts of town, one on county airport property and the other on U.S. 84.

Chancery Clerk Tommy O’Beirne, also secretary to the Adams County Board of Supervisors, said he will report to the board at an 8 a.m. meeting today that no petitions were filed.

“In the absence of the filing, the board will meet and there will be a resolution adopted by the board that no one filed,” O’Beirne said.

“We’ll make notice of that so that the people can go forward with the correctional facility,” he said.

Darryl Grennell, president of the Board of Supervisors, reacted with enthusiasm as he walked up the steps to the chancery clerk’s office shortly after 5 p.m.

“This is good news for Adams County,” Grennell said. “It seems to me the people of Adams County have spoken. It says to me that we have made the right decision.”

One of the prison companies, Corrections Corporation of America, wants to take advantage of Katrina-related GO-Zone legislation that would offer the company financial breaks if they build soon.

Because the company would like to have the facility built before the federal contract is awarded, construction probably would need to begin by July, an economic development official has said.

Wheat and Robert Palmer spearheaded the petition drive, iterating that their purpose was not to prevent the building of a prison but to give voters an opportunity to choose.

“The voting public in Adams County has spoken,” their written statement says. They declined to comment directly on the issue Tuesday.

“Not signing a petition to take the prison issue to an election sent a very clear message.

“Whatever the reasons that many of you felt the need not to exercise your right to vote on such an important issue, the fact remains now that less than five elected individuals will be allowed to make a decisions that affects everyone in the county.”

Tim Trottier, president and CEO of Natchez Community Hospital, and Jack Sours, vice president and general manager of the Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel, accompanied Grennell to the clerk’s office at the end of the day Tuesday.

“Jack and I represent privately owned businesses that are two of the biggest employers in the county,” Trottier said.

“We think it’s so important our elected officials get our support for this important opportunity.”

Sours agreed. “We’re very excited about this. As part of the business community, we know this will be good for the economy of the area.”