After years of delays, the Department of Corrections is taking drastic steps to speed up the process of finding a location for a west river minimum security prison.  DOC Secretary Tim Reisch flew the Senate Appropriations Committee from Pierre to Rapid City to see five locations first hand.

DOC officials thought the search was over last month when they found what they call the perfect location but there was heavy opposition.  Lawmakers came to town Thursday so they can make an informed decision about the future of the prison.

With a $6 million working budget and three hours to spare, the Senate Appropriations Committee toured five Rapid City locations; one could soon be home to 250 inmates.

"It's been just a few days but we've been fortunate enough to have people come forward with a number of options for us.  Some are better than others," Department of Corrections Secretary Tim Reisch said.

The goal of Thursday's trip was to speed up the process of moving inmates out of their current facility in Rapid City, a site that was supposed to be open for just a year and half.  In the five years since then, the DOC has been fighting to find an agreeable location.

Even now, a few of the proposed sites overlook busy streets and growing housing developments; places officials anticipate strong opposition.

"Ultimately, you have to locate the facility.  As you've seen today, this one's terrible and we're trying to look for sites that will create the least amount of problems for people," Democratic State Senator Jim Hundstad said.

And after years of waiting, legislators agree it's time to make a decision even if it's about an unpopular topic. 

"It's critically important that we continue to try to find answers and this is one we need to do there's never going to be a perfect time for it but this is as perfect as any other time," Republican State Senator Jeff Haverly said.

The locations visited Thursday will be discussed in meetings Friday.  Lawmakers could make a decision by the end of the session next week.