West Bend licensing board recommends denial of operator’s license for Dominic Van Buskirk

The West Bend Licensing Board voted April 7, 2025, to recommend denial of an operator’s license for Dominic Van Buskirk after police presented a memo documenting multiple recent violations and concerns about cooperation with law enforcement.

Board members said the operator permit places the holder in a position of responsibility for alcohol service and for controlling conduct on licensed premises, and they cited seven alcohol- or drug-related incidents from the past two to three years as the basis for requesting denial. The recommendation will appear on the common council consent agenda later in the meeting.

Chief (police) summarized the board’s reasons in brief remarks and asked members to focus on three points: the intent of the permit, the expectation that an operator will work closely with the police department, and that an operator permit is not location-specific. The chief told the board the police department’s memo from Lieutenant McAndrews documented seven violations and alleged instances of providing false information and false identification. “We never enter into these conversations lightly,” the chief said, adding the department considered the applicant’s ability to cooperate with police when deciding to recommend denial.

A motion to deny Van Buskirk’s operator’s license was made, seconded and carried by voice vote. No roll-call vote with member-by-member tallies was recorded in the public transcript; the matter was placed on the common council’s consent agenda for final action at that body’s meeting.

No appeal, hearing request, or specific rehabilitation conditions were recorded during the board’s discussion. The licensing board adjourned after taking up the item.