Council approves 2025–26 liquor licenses with conditions after building-inspection complaints

The Pewaukee Common Council on June 16 approved 2025–26 liquor license renewals and agent appointments while making approval contingent on businesses fixing identified building- and plumbing-code violations and obtaining required permits.

At a public hearing, Kelly, a city staff member who oversees licensing, told the council two establishments were not renewing at this time and that several premise descriptions and agent changes were under review. Kelly said a newly contracted inspector — later hired as a city employee — performed inspections this year and documented multiple violations, which are compiled in a packet the council received.

Business owner Gina Schwester, who identified herself as owner of Gina Sportstock on Prospect Avenue, told the council she and her staff were uncomfortable when an inspector first appeared without visible credentials and visited outside normal business hours. "He has no credentials. He doesn't have a lanyard. He doesn't have a business card," Schwester said. After she contacted the city the inspector called and returned wearing a lanyard and a shirt marked "city inspector," she said, and the subsequent inspection identified only minor code issues.

City staff explained the inspections were completed while the city lacked a full-time inspector and much of the work had been farmed to an outside consultant; Mike, now a city plumbing inspector, joined the effort and is now a city employee. Kelly told the council most infractions can be corrected within 30 days, though grease-trap and interceptor work could take up to six months and backflow-preventer (RPZ) registrations may take longer because the state is backlogged.

Council members said they wanted staff to notify each affected licensee in writing and to include a clear timeline for repairs and required permits. During debate members discussed a staged timetable: an initial 30–60 day expectation for routine plumbing fixes, a suggested 90‑day reminder if work was not progressing, a six‑month allowance for grease traps/interceptors, and the possibility of additional time for RPZ/backflow registration if the delay is on the state side. One council member moved to approve the licenses with those contingencies; the motion was seconded and the council proceeded to the next agenda item after the vote.

Council direction included: staff will email owners the cited violations and a permit checklist; license approvals will remain contingent on progress or completion of required repairs; and staff will return to the council if individual businesses fail to make a good‑faith effort. Several council members emphasized they do not want to close businesses that are actively working to comply.

The public hearing also included discussion about one large venue seeking to expand its licensed area to include an adjoining arcade/entertainment space. Council members asked staff to confirm whether previous approvals or conditional-use permits had expressly allowed outdoor patio drinking and to reconcile any discrepancies between prior approvals and this year’s premise description before finalizing that license amendment.

The council did not change the city’s practice of requiring licensed contractors and permits for plumbing work; council members and staff urged clear written directions to affected businesses and better credentialing of contracted inspectors going forward.