Call center would get hefty break on lease The Kaua’i County Council debated the merits of subsidizing private business for almost two hours Thursday night. But in the end, the council voiced at least qualified support for a proposed call
Call center would get hefty break on lease
The Kaua’i County Council debated the merits of subsidizing private business for almost two hours Thursday night.
But in the end, the council voiced at least qualified support for a proposed call center to be housed in the old, county-owned Gem store space.
Tickets Plus, which already has an office on Oahu, wants to bring a call center (taking ticket orders by phone from all around the U.S.) to Kaua’i.
Wally Rezentes Sr., top assistant to Mayor Maryanne Kusaka, said last week the call center would bring “good” jobs to people on Kaua’i in connection with a Kaua’i Community College computer program.
Rezentes pointed out that the lease contract between the county and the call center would require improvements by the tenant.
Rezentes also noted that there would be a five to seven-year limit to the lease.
Councilman Gary Hooser has proposed an amendment to the ordinance which would bring the call center in, with the county as landlord, for a minimal monthly rental cost.
Hooser wants a requirement to be written into the agreement that the jobs pay a minimum of $9 per hour. He said that would be a fair exchange.
“The public is providing a $1 million to $2 million subsidy to a private business. I don’t want to subsidize a private business paying substandard wages,” Hooser said, noting current leasing rates in the public sector would cost Tickets Plus much more than a nominal fee.
The council unanimously passed the matter for further consideration, including Hooser’s amendment, at its next meeting.
“It’s a win-win situation. I want to help them get started. They make improvements” to the county property and provide jobs, Councilman Jimmy Tokioka said.
“I don’t want this to be a lost opportunity. This is an economic development that benefits the people of Kaua’i. I view this as an opportunity,” said Councilman Randal Valenciano, adding the former Gem store space in the Pi’ikoi Building “has been vacant for too long.”
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailtp:dwilken@pulitzer.net
