By By JAN GRIFFEY / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- An Elkhart, Ind., woman has applied for a liquor license and apparently intends to open a nightclub featuring female topless dancers in Niles Township.
The township's board of trustees has referred the liquor license application to the township's attorney, Christopher J. Lynch of Hadsell, Landgraf, Lynch and Drew, for review.
Lynch said the township is involved with either approving or disapproving the business in two ways.
First, he said, "The zoning ordinance sets forth the requirements that relate to the establishment of an adult business in Niles Township. Anyone who opens a business of any type in the township, be it commercial, agricultural, or a mom-and-pop grocery story, has to follow the terms of the zoning ordinance.
Zoning administrator in Niles Township is Van Thornton.
Thornton, contacted Thursday afternoon at his office in Niles Township, said he had been advised by legal counsel not to comment on the issue.
Lynch said the second aspect in which the township is involved with the proposed topless nightclub deals with the issuance of a liquor license by the State of Michigan.
Teresa Kreighbaum of Elkhart, Ind., has applied to the state for the transfer of the liquor license previously belonging to Shula's Nightclub in Niles Township. Her application says she wants to operate her establishment in the 2600 block of South 11th Street, Niles.
Kreighbaum did not return a telephone message left at her home on Thursday.