Committee approves previous minutes and staff license recommendations; Renee West's application carried to November

The City of Wausau Public Health and Safety Committee on Oct. 20 voted to approve the minutes of its Sept. 15 meeting and accepted staff recommendations on a slate of license applications while carrying one application to November for further documentation.

A motion from Council member Larson, seconded by Watson, carried to approve the Sept. 15 minutes; members who vocalized their support said "Aye." The committee then addressed several license matters.

The committee said staff recommended denial for four applicants under the municipal ordinance: Braxton Grakowski, Feijovang Feijovang, Renee West and Lindsey Adams. Renee West of 925 Jefferson Street, Apartment 3, appeared at the meeting and told the committee she had been "unmedicated at the time 2 years ago" and that she is now overseen by a psychiatrist, works full time and takes medication as directed. She said she had difficulty obtaining a physician's signature on a rehabilitation form and that a relative signed a letter to help her keep employment.

Committee members explained the ordinance allows applicants to submit formal "evidence of rehabilitation" for staff and the police department to review. The committee offered to hold action on West's application and bring it back at the November meeting to allow her time to submit documents to the city clerk for review. Committee members also advised that, if a license were approved, outstanding fines typically must be paid before a license is issued but that a hardship waiver process exists through the city clerk.

The committee approved other applications recommended by staff, including the County Market switch to Hy-Vee and a class-A fuel retail license for "Fuel on Number 62" at 308 Stewart Avenue; it also approved a class-2 special-event permit for the Our Lady of Guadalupe pilgrimage (Marathon Park to St. Matthew Parish). A motion to accept staff recommendations (with Renee West's application held for November) passed after a second from Watson; members responded "Aye." The committee placed the license actions on file as recommended by staff.

At the same time, members asked that clerks correct a business name on the monthly tavern-activities report (Bow Falls Brewing Company, not "Bow Falls Brewery") and noted that one establishment that recently reopened had a reported theft and an impaired-server incident.

No ordinances or new regulations were adopted at the meeting; the committee's recorded actions were approval of the minutes and acceptance of staff'recommended license decisions with one application deferred.