VIDALIA — Among a list of 18 liquor and beer licenses approved by the Vidalia Board of Aldermen Monday night was one for Danny’s Lounge.

The license goes into effect Jan. 1, allowing the bar to once again open its doors.

Danny’s has been without its liquor license for a year after aldermen denied it following complaints from the community and 37 crime reports from 2005 to 2008.

Bar owners have contended all along that only 11 of the 37 police reports actually happened at the nightclub.

Aldermen Triand “Tron” McCoy made the motion to approve the liquor license with previously discussed rules for the club in place.

The motion was approved unanimously.

The city laid out multiple rules for Danny’s months ago, including:

– Two security guards per every 100 patrons must be present

– A metal detector must be used at the door

– No drinks can be taken outside the building

– All employees have to undergo training to learn to manage obnoxious patrons

– No loitering outside the building will be permitted

– The club must close by 2 a.m.; the parking lot must be empty by 2:30

– The club is under a six-month probationary period

McCoy also said he would like to meet with the owners again to review the rules prior to January.

“The rules have been in place since our first discussion,” McCoy said after the meeting. “If there are complaints and issues that this board needs to pay attention to, we will.”

McCoy, who serves the district which includes Danny’s, said the safety of the club’s employees, patrons and the neighboring community was the No. 1 priority.

“At no point in time did we not want a viable business in the City of Vidalia,” McCoy said. “But you want citizens and patrons to be safe.”

Talks between the club and the city have been ongoing all year. The board failed to renew the liquor license in June, saying the club had not followed the rules laid out up to that point.

Vidalia Police officials have accused the club of being a magnet for noise, drugs and violent crime.

The owners said the club was unfairly branded, saying many incidents the police were pointing to did not occur on Danny’s property.

McCoy said Tuesday night that he was optimistic that the situation would now be resolved.

“I hope, just like any other business that opens, they can do good safe business.”

The 18 liquor and beer license renewals were routine approvals that go into effect Jan. 1.

In other business at the meeting, the city announced that it will accept the donation of an electrical line from Entergy.

The line — in the area near Fruit of the Loom — was set to be abandoned by the company, and Vidalia agreed to take over.

The line only serves two residences, and the addition of the line means the City of Vidalia now owns all lines within the city limits.