City won’t object to liquor license renewals

Birmingham City Commissioners on Monday, March 9, conducted a pubic hearing on two facilities in the city that hold liquor licenses and ultimately voted to not file objections with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission on renewing those licenses.

The hearing was the result of a February 9 meeting at which the commission reviewed some 40 plus establishments with liquor licenses in the city. At that meeting 220 Merrill and Slider/Slice/Shift were singled out for a special hearing due to reports from the police department that staff at these two establishments were viewed as uncooperative when it came incidents requiring a police presence. Additionally, 220 Merrill had a $77,000 balance owned to the city.

Birmingham Police Captain Mike Simpson told commissioners that productive meetings were held with the owners of both establishments, updated contact information was gathered, and it appeared that owners and staff were prepared to move forward without communication problems from the past.

In the case of Slider/Slice/Shift, a resident living in one of the units directly above the establishment raised concerns about noise from music at the establishment but the owner offered to meet and work with the resident to determine what could be done to reduce noise complaints in the future.

The commission voted not to file objections to the liquor licenses at the two establishments.