Kenosha licenses committee approves most operator and event permits, recommends denial for one applicant

The Kenosha Licenses and Permits Committee on Aug. 11 approved multiple operator and event-license requests, recommended denial of one application and deferred other items after extended discussion focused on a city demerit-point tracking system used to evaluate applicants.

The committee, chaired by Chairperson Kennedy, heard applicant testimony, reviewed city attorney notes and applied a demerit-point rubric that members said is intended as a neutral tracking tool. Committee members repeatedly noted that the ordinance's points chart and a 100-point threshold trigger the authority to deny a license.

Committee members granted new operator's licenses for three applicants grouped under item 1 (items 1a'c) and separately approved item 1d, Ronnie Orr, after questions about multiple police-related incidents and a pending trial. Orr told the committee he was "pretty good with tavern squad" and that the most recent incident is the subject of an ongoing trial. Committee members said Orr's record produced 95 demerit points, short of the 100-point threshold; they approved the recommendation to grant his license with the recorded demerit points and noted he is close to the denial threshold.

The committee approved Brandy…