Lansing council affirms liquor revocation, approves industrial exemption transfer and issues several make‑safe orders

The Lansing City Council on April 7 took a series of formal votes and procedural actions, including affirming revocation findings for a nightclub, approving the transfer of an industrial exemption certificate, appointing members to several boards and authorities, and issuing make‑safe or demolish orders for multiple properties.

Key outcomes at a glance:

- The council affirmed the hearing officer's findings and recommendation to revoke the cabaret license for CDDM Corporation (Dream Girls, 5910 S. Pennsylvania Ave.) and authorized submission of a liquor license revocation request to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. Council minutes state the revocation hearing occurred March 25 and that the council "affirmed the hearing officer's proposed finding of fact and recommendation effective immediately."

- The council approved two related resolutions to transfer an existing Industrial Exemption Certificate from Ultimate Sales LLC to LG Energy Solution Michigan Inc. pursuant to Public Act 198 of 1974. The transfer and associated finding followed a March 24 hearing and were moved and approved by council.

- Appointments: Melissa Reba was appointed as an at‑large member of the Historic District Commission for a term expiring Feb. 28, 2027; Brian Britton (listed as a compliance analyst with Consumers Energy) was appointed to serve on the Economic Development Corporation / Tax Increment Finance Authority / Brownfield Redevelopment Authority board; and Michael Owsley was appointed to a resident position on the South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Corridor Improvement Authority with a term expiring July 31, 2025. Each appointment was moved and the council recorded affirmative votes.

- The council passed a resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of Lansing Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and invited the public to a celebration May 14 at Francis Park.

- The council adopted multiple make‑safe or demolish orders for blighted properties: 1033 Shepherd St. (21‑day order); 1723 Ozband Ave. (60‑day order, vote recorded as 6‑1); 5625 Ks North Rd. (60‑day order); and 204 E. Potter Ave. (60‑day order but the city later reported the final building inspection was passed and the property has been made safe). Each order followed prior hearing‑officer determinations and public show‑cause hearings.

- Consent agenda items were moved and passed, including setting public hearings for the fiscal‑year 2025–26 budget and the Community Development Block Grant annual action plan, and accepting several grants (Kroger Tree Planting Harbor Day and Michigan Drug Court grant among others).

- The council introduced an ordinance readopting the codified ordinances of the city and set a public hearing for April 21; the motion to introduce and refer the ordinance to the committee of the whole carried.

What the votes mean: The industrial exemption transfer allows LG Energy Solution Michigan Inc. to assume an existing tax abatement certificate once conditions are finalized; the council’s affirmation of the Dream Girls revocation implements the hearing officer’s recommendation and forwards the liquor revocation to state regulators. Make‑safe or demolish orders start statutory timelines for property owners to comply or face city action.

Vote details and sources: Several items were approved by voice vote with no roll‑call tally recorded in the meeting minutes; the Ozband Avenue make‑safe or demolish order was recorded as passing 6‑1. The council’s recorded minutes note prior red‑tag dates, hearing dates and deadlines for the properties subject to demolition orders. The revocation and industrial exemption items were connected to prior hearings in late March.

The council adjourned at 9:49 p.m.