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Sheboygan council approves four‑month extension for condemned bar despite police warnings

Sheboygan Common Council · February 3, 2026

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Summary

After extended debate and testimony from Police Chief Semple recounting disturbances and a June shooting at the establishment, the Sheboygan Common Council voted 5–4 to grant a four‑month extension of liquor license #3475 for licensee Elena Cortez.

The Sheboygan Common Council voted 5–4 to grant a four‑month extension of liquor license No. 3475 for an establishment owned by Elena Cortez after a contentious discussion that focused on public‑safety incidents at the venue.

Police Chief Semple laid out a sequence of incidents the department said were connected to the business, including a chronic nuisance declaration in May 2024, multiple fights, and a June 30 shooting inside the bar. "They had a shooting inside the bar... the owner delayed calling 911 for at least 5 minutes, which she admitted on the 911 recording of the call," Semple said, urging the council to use its licensing authority to manage risky businesses.

The council considered two competing motions: Alder Boris moved to file the clerk's report and grant a four‑month extension; Alder Heidemann moved to deny the extension. Heidemann told the council she had reconsidered her committee vote after reviewing the hearing tape and said she did not feel comfortable granting an extension.

City Attorney explained the distinction between suspension penalties and extensions and noted that a licensed premises that "does not operate for 6 months may have their license revoked for nonuse" under city ordinance. The city clerk confirmed a waiting list exists for Class B licenses and that one Class B license was currently available.

The motion to deny the extension failed (the clerk summarized the vote as "5 no's, 4 yes's") and the council then approved the original motion to grant the four‑month extension with a roll call of 5 ayes and 4 noes. The transcript does not record the licensee speaking at council; a council member asked whether Cortez had been notified that the item would be discussed off the consent agenda, and staff replied notice was limited to the published agenda.

The council did not take further enforcement action at the meeting; the city attorney said if the council declines to affirm an extension in the future the next step would be a license‑revocation hearing before the LHPS committee.