Wausau committee approves multiple liquor, event and entertainment licenses; denies one public-transport application

Wausau Public Health and Safety Committee members on June 16 approved a slate of license actions, including transfers, a new entertainment-facility approval and the award of a class B beer-and-liquor license, and recorded a denial recommendation for a public-transport license for Terry French, who did not appear at the meeting.

The action matters because it sets which local businesses can serve alcohol, operate amusement or entertainment facilities and hold event permits in the coming months. Several decisions also preserve applicants’ positions for a future licensing cycle that begins July 1.

Committee leadership opened the meeting by noting a “denial recommendation on our list” for a public-transport license for Terry French and that French “has not appeared,” which the committee recorded. The ordinance governing the process allows a denied applicant the opportunity to discuss the record with the committee, the chair said.

Licensing staff summarized the packet of routine approvals including recurring event permits, class B beer and class C wine renewals, amusement device licenses and entertainment-facility applications. The committee reported unanimous subcommittee recommendations to approve two ownership changes: Taqueria Tres Hermanos (from sole proprietor to an LLC) and Truly’s Eatery and Bar (taking over the former Nooch’s Eatery on Merrill Avenue). Licensing staff also described an entertainment-facility application for a nonalcohol claw-machine arcade-type operation; the staff recommendation was to approve the entertainment-facility license because the owners had discussed the plans with staff and intended to obtain the license before opening.

On the single available class B beer-and-liquor license, three applicants were considered: the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art (currently holding class B beer/class C wine), Ash Gardens (holding a reserve/full license) and Kin and Kind (holding a beer-only class B license). The subcommittee recommended awarding the available class B beer-and-liquor license to Kin and Kind “with only one opposing vote,” licensing staff said. Staff also advised the committee that at the July 1 renewals two additional class B licenses could become available and that application materials from this cycle would be saved for consideration.

The committee moved to accept staff recommendations on licenses; the motion was made by Council member Larson and seconded by Lukens and carried without recorded opposition. The transfer of Limerick’s Pub’s alcohol license to a new location on Third Street (same owner) was approved by motion from Larson and second by Watson. The committee also approved a one-day temporary extension of premises for Cop Shop Limited (doing business as Cop Shop Pub at 701 Washington Street) to cordon off an outdoor area for a fundraiser; that motion was made by Watson and seconded by Lukens.

The committee placed the tavern activities report for May on file; the chief noted the month was low-key and mentioned an unusual incident in which someone tried to sell an otter and another person bought it.

No ordinances or statutes were cited by name during the licensing discussion; the record refers generically to “our ordinance” as the basis for the denied-applicant process. The committee did not record a roll-call vote for individual members on these motions and votes were taken by voice; motions carried as published in the meeting record.

The committee directed staff to preserve submitted materials for applicants who may apply in the July cycle and to bring any items requiring further council action forward at the next appropriate council meeting.