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Public Safety committee approves bartender renewal, issues notice of intent not to renew one liquor license and postpones two items
Summary
The Public Safety Committee approved a bartender license renewal for Michael Stempel June 10, authorized the clerk to send a notice of intent not to renew a retail alcohol license for Makoko (7420 West Greenfield) over wholesaler indebtedness, and postponed two items tied to a recent state law until July 15.
The West Allis Public Safety Committee met during the council's recess on June 10 and took several licensing actions and procedural steps.
The committee considered an operator (bartender) license renewal for Michael Stempel. Stempel acknowledged a 2024 operating-while-intoxicated (OWI) conviction and said he completed the court-ordered alcohol assessment and counseling and was subject to a zero‑alcohol requirement under probation. "I haven't drank since the incident," Stempel told the committee, adding that he is on track with his probation obligations and that his employer, Polly's Pub, enforces a zero-alcohol policy for staff. The committee moved to approve Stempel's license renewal and the motion carried.
On another agenda item, staff presented a request to issue a notice of intent not to renew the retail alcohol license for Class B licensee Edwin Ordonez, doing business as Makoko at 7420 West Greenfield, because of delinquent indebtedness to a wholesaler under Wisconsin law. Committee staff explained that state statutes require the clerk be notified when a retailer is indebted to a wholesaler; the committee authorized sending the notice, which gives the licensee an opportunity to pay the indebtedness or request a hearing before renewal is denied. The clerk's office drafted a letter to give the licensee approximately 20 days to contest or resolve the matter.
The committee also handled two agenda items (items 3 and 7) related to a recent state law change affecting certain retail alcohol licenses. Committee members agreed to hold those items until the July 15 meeting to develop written procedures for notifying licensees and to consider amendments that would delay enforcement or provide a warning period so retailers have time to comply with a new licensing requirement. Committee members and staff emphasized that the goal is to avoid surprise citations for retailers who have not yet adjusted to the new state law.
The council later adopted the Public Safety Committee report at the full meeting.
