The Kaua’i County Council by a vote of 6 to 1 approved an ordinance that will allow a call center into the old Gem space in the Pi’ikoi Building. Council Member Gary Hooser said he opposed the proposal because his
The Kaua’i County Council by a vote of 6 to 1 approved an ordinance that will allow a call center into the old Gem space in the Pi’ikoi Building.
Council Member Gary Hooser said he opposed the proposal because his suggested amendment – that the business owner be forced to pay at least $9 per hour for jobs – was not tacked onto Bill #1989.
The Call Center operator, Tickets Plus, already has an office on O’ahu.
The company takes ticket orders from across the United States for a multiplicity of theatrical, musical and sporting events.
Wally Rezentes Sr., assistant to Kaua’i County Mayor Maryanne Kusaka, said the new employer will be working in conjunction with a Kaua’i Community College program to move students into the available jobs.
Tickets Plus, as part of their lease agreement, is also slated to make improvements that will remain with the county after the company leaves the space.
In exchange, Tickets Plus will pay a greatly reduced rent during their multiyear stay in the county owned space.
Hooser had claimed at previous meetings that Tickets Plus will save between $1 million and $2 million in rent during the course of its multi-year lease.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
