The Wayne County Committee on Economic Development on Wednesday approved a two-year comparable-source grant services agreement to reimburse the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) for 10 magnetometers purchased for major public events.

County staff said the devices were bought to reduce rental costs and improve logistics for downtown events, and the county’s contribution will allow the units to be used for both DDP and county events. "We did say we're gonna help them purchase the units," said Anthony Cartwright, interim director of economic development. "So this is a reimbursement to them."

Why it matters: Officials said owning the units provides flexibility to position screening stations and respond quickly to evolving security needs at large gatherings. The committee's approval gives county organizers access to the detectors for county events and creates a period of contractual oversight during which the equipment cannot be sold. "We added language within the contract where DDP will not be able to sell or dispose of the equipment during the two-year contract and then one additional year after that," said the assistant director of economic vitality during the discussion.

Key details: Committee members asked about unit cost, warranty and usage. Staff described a roughly one-year warranty on each unit and said a unit can screen about 1,000 people per hour. The packet and staff discussion referenced an invoice amount described in the meeting as "just over" a figure and a county contribution described in the packet as "not to exceed $200"; the transcript did not clearly specify whether those figures were dollars, thousands, or another unit. Staff stated the county would pay roughly half of the invoice and that DDP had sought other partners, including the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, for additional funding.

Committee process and vote: A commissioner moved to approve the contract; the motion was seconded and the committee approved the agreement by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The record shows the item was presented as a reimbursement for equipment already purchased and approved for receiving and county use.

What’s next: DDP representatives were invited to join virtually and were expected at the full commission meeting for further questions. The contract language discussed in committee prevents sale or disposal of the devices for the two-year term plus one additional year, after which the transcript shows no further restrictions recorded.