SPARTA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The owner of the Sparta Township venue that hosted a JD Vance rally is facing permit violations for going over capacity.
Vance, now the vice president-elect, came to Apple Valley Events on 12 Mile Road on Sept. 17 in the heat of election season.
“It’s really cool for a small-time place like Sparta to have him come here,” said Dale Bergman, the longtime Sparta Township supervisor.
Trump wins Michigan’s electoral votes, AP reports
Chad Momber, the venue owner, has had a special land use permit since February 2023, according to township planning documents. Bergman said Momber originally went to the township and said the Vance rally would be an outdoor event, but was later told by the Secret Service it had to be moved inside. The rally came not long after an assassination attempt against President-elect Donald Trump.
“What happened was beyond Chad Momber’s control and anybody’s control,” Bergman said.
The rally did move indoors. Fresh Coast Planning, a Grand Haven group that provides zoning services to the township, sent a letter to the planning commission Oct. 31 noting several venue violations. The group said at least 500 people attended the Vance rally. Additionally, it said venues with at least 100 people inside need to have a fire suppression system and Apple Valley Events did not.