Three bars clear up violations

Source: Bay City Times
The Bay City Commission apparently won't have any reason to object to the renewal of liquor licenses for three Bay City bars.

Monday, the Bay City Commission heard city attorney Neil Wackerly discuss the progress of Duso's, Tubby's Pub and Westown/Lucky's Pub under a 1998 policy allowing the city to object to liquor license renewals.

Monday night was to be a court-like proceeding on the liquor license renewals of those three bars.

But no one from the bars stepped forward and no witnesses were called. Instead, it appears the City Commission will have no reason to object to the license renewals when it formally decides next month.

In the case of Duso's, 604 E. Midland St., the license has been on hold and the bar has been closed since February 1999. So Wackerly recommended continuing the previous agreement - that Duso's would not reopen until all the required repairs are finished.

The only new part to that agreement would be a requirement to pay delinquent taxes and utility bills. Wackerly said the owner, Doug Hembling, could not attend Monday's hearing because he is sick.

For Tubby's Pub, 1301 Kosciuszko Ave., the taxes and utilities were paid Monday, officials said. And city officials said the few code violations - junk equipment stored outdoors, weeds needing to be cut and an outbuilding in bad shape - should be cleared up by March 1.

Officials said the taxes on Westown Place/Lucky's Bar, 611-613 Midland St., also were paid Monday. And city building code official Gerald Morin no longer objects to the liquor license renewal because code violations are either repaired or being fixed, Wackerly said.

The City Commission will make its formal decisions on whether to object to the liquor licenses on March 5. Wackerly said there's no longer any reason to object to the license for Westown/Lucky's Bar, and by that time, the repairs to Tubby's Pub should be finished.

As for Duso's, the tentative agreement says the city will not object to the license renewal as long as the bar stays closed during the repairs and until the taxes and utility bills are paid.

The state Liquor Control Commission is in charge of liquor licenses, but a 1998 policy allows the City Commission to object to license renewals under certain conditions, including property maintenance code violations and unpaid taxes or utility bills.
Source: Bay City Times