The Board of Works heard a late business-license appeal on Dec. 4, 2025 from Amira Miles, the owner of My Guilty Pleasure LLC, and ultimately voted to waive a late fee after Miles said she was not operating in the City of Hammond.

Miles told the board she "hasn't done business in the city since 2023" and that the business-license renewal form does not state that she must notify the city if she ceases operations. She said she had leased a kitchen space through HDC but did not use it and later canceled the lease. HDC staff present indicated Miles provided notice to HDC in October 2024; board members discussed whether the HDC notice or other documentation contradicted Miles' testimony but said they had nothing on record to refute her statement that she was not operating in the city at the renewal deadline.

Board members suggested adding a clear notification checkbox or field to the license-renewal form to prevent similar disputes in the future. Following discussion, a board member moved to waive the late fee and dismiss the matter; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Amira Miles spoke directly at the hearing: "There's nowhere that states on the business license nor on the renewal business license that I have to notify the city of Hammond that I'm no longer doing business in the city," she told the board. HDC staff said Miles provided notice to HDC in October 2024 but the board found insufficient documentary evidence to contradict Miles' testimony and approved a waiver of the late fee.

The board closed the hearing by thanking Miles and dismissing the matter; staff were asked to update the renewal form to include language or a checkbox requiring notification when a business ceases operations.