GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Kent County can host its large-scale vaccine clinic at DeVos Place “without paying rent”, now that it has renegotiated its rent to the convention center after public scrutiny of the $ 12,000 daily rental fee of the original rental.
The county, which operates the clinic in partnership with Spectrum Health and Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, announced the revision of the contract on Friday afternoon.
It was negotiated with the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention / Arena Authority (CAA), the public agency that owns DeVos Place, and also with SMG / ASM Global, a company contracted by CAA to manage the site.
“We are very pleased with the outcome of our latest discussions with CAA and SMG about the vaccination clinic at DeVos Place,” said Kent County administrator Wayman Britt in a statement.
“All parties involved share the goal of operating the most efficient, safe and effective large-scale vaccination clinic in our region. We also share a commitment to be responsible stewards of public money and to strengthen community trust. “
Under the revised agreement, CAA and ASM Global will make DeVos Place available to the county “without rent”, with the county being charged only “for the actual costs of operating the facility,” according to a press release from Kent County .
These costs include utilities, janitorial and maintenance services, security and EMS services. Expenses with these costs “will only be incurred to the extent that services are requested or used in the clinic’s operations,” according to the county.
The $ 12,000 daily rental fee of the initial contract drew resistance from Kent County Commissioners Council members and DeltaPlex owner Joel Langlois. Langlois said on social media that he would have hosted the vaccine clinic at his location, located in Walker, for $ 1,000 a day.
A county press release said it was “impossible to predict the exact costs of the new operation” when the initial lease for the space was signed last month, before the clinic launched in late January.
“Our goal at that time was to get a temporary deal so that we could open the clinic and get vaccines,” said Britt. “After our first 15 days of operation, we are better able to assess actual space and operational needs, as well as the tangible costs associated with using the convention center for this unprecedented purpose.”
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