The community expressed their ongoing distrust in the way the state has handled the prison’s issues. According to Karl Knobelauch, landowner adjacent to the prison, he had the opportunity to walk along the outskirts of the prison while it was being constructed and he witnessed each cell being built double bunked. So, according to the Knobelauch, the prison, which had been originally been approved for 1700 inmates, was built for 3000 in the first place, and is now passed 4,000. In the past, the city of Ione has voted against expanding the prison facilities by 60 to 70 percent margins. So instead of building new facilities for new inmates, the state just sent new inmates. The community told the three officials, “We know this wasn't the CDC's intentions but it sure felt like they were saying, "You folks didn't want a bigger prison, you didn't vote for a bigger prison, but we're gonna give you one and not mitigate for it." Secretary Tilton stated, "I wish I were in the situation today to reduce the prison population, I would love that. But we are certainly not just going to release these inmates so we are working on expanding facilities."

He told the people that the governor has ratified 3 billion dollars be directed for prison expansion and that they are currently working to build space for more beds to replace the 800 "bad beds" that are currently at Mule Creek. Supervisor of District 2, Richard Forester addressed the Senator, Warden, and Secretary telling them he wants a long term regional wastewater fix to be accomplished expediently. He told them local government is ready and willing to tackle the wastewater issues with a "partnership approach" as long as the local government gets a response, which was currently being seen. He stated, "New developments have to provide for their impacts and we, as elected officials, have the power to turn them down if they do not. The prison has its own impacts and does not seem to take those impacts seriously.

We would like to work this out together, but we are also prepared to go to litigation if that is not the case. The sooner the Governor and the Department of Corrections figure out that we are talking about millions of dollars to fix this, and not hundreds of thousands, the sooner we will get this fixed." Secretary Tilton told the community that Mule Creek would be the model for problem solving throughout the state. Warden Rich Subia then stated, "I am the leader of this prison, and I am responsible for it. Although I do not live here, I consider myself a member of this community because much of my time is spent here. I plan on coming to the community meetings in the future to report and shed light on what the prison is doing. I am accountable for what occurs at the prison, the Secretary will hold me accountable and I hope you do the same." The Senator, the Secretary, and the Warden did not comment on the issues in depth, but told the citizens that they will research the issues that were brought up so that they would be able to in the future.