The Arena to Keep Liquor License

The Ann Arbor city council has withdrawn its formal objection to the renewal of a liquor license for The Arena – a bar located on the northeast corner of Washington and Fourth in downtown Ann Arbor. The action to withdraw the city’s objection came at the council’s May 6, 2013 meeting.

The council withdrew objection when The Arena paid all outstanding obligations to the city on April 30, 2013.

The basis of the council’s objection to the renewal, which was made at its March 18, 2013 meeting, had been The Arena’s failure to pay a combined $8,755 of 2011 taxes and an additional default judgment. The default judgment was made in the 15th District Court by then-judge Julie Creal in favor of the city for $1,659. It involved non-payment for police services.

The city’s objection had been forwarded to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) for final action. Because The Arena paid the taxes, the MLCC was willing to extend The Arena’s license, conditioned on the Ann Arbor city council’s withdrawal of the original objection by May 31, 2013.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers at city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]