ST. LOUIS, Mich. -- Layoff notices are coming in to Mid-Michigan prison workers, and it’s not just Standish Max that’s taking a hit.

For months, jobs at the prison have been in jeopardy, but now TV5 has learned of dozens of layoffs at another local prison.

It’s been a rough day for Warden Nick Ludwick, but not nearly as rough as it has been for the dozens of corrections officers and employees he’s had to let go. “It’s a dark day in corrections,” said Ludwick.

The head of the St. Louis and Mid-Michigan correctional facilities has handed out 51 layoff letters to make room for workers from Standish Max with more seniority.

Standish is slated to close on Halloween.

"Our complex in St. Louis -- consisting of three prisons, as well as the Saginaw Correctional Facility -- are a designated bump region, to allow those displaced employees from Standish to come here and take a job and either cause a layoff and or result in a bump to another location,” said Ludwick.

On top of the 51 layoffs, about a dozen St. Louis employees are being bumped to other correctional facilities, including Ionia and Saginaw.

About 100 Standish Max employees were given layoff notices Thursday, a formality two weeks before the scheduled closure of that facility.

“The staff in Standish who are coming here will be welcomed with open arms,” said Ludwick.

As Standish braces for the prison closure, some in St. Louis are wondering how the flip-flopping of employees will change their community.

“It is going to affect some people here, especially if they relocate to other communities.” said George Kubin, a business owner and mayor of St. Louis. “We may loose some school kids; I may lose some customers.”

The Standish city council put off action Thursday on a resolution expressing interest in housing the detainees at the Standish Maximum Correctional Facility.

The commission for surrounding Arenac County has endorsed the idea.