Applicant asks committee to reconsider liquor-license denial; committee asks for proof of rehabilitation

Darius K. Williams asked the Wausau Public Health and Safety Committee on Tuesday to reconsider a staff recommendation to deny his liquor-license application so he can work at Fuel Lawn.

Williams, who gave his address as 305 Stewart Ave., said he has been out of prison for more than seven years and has completed treatment programs, including AODA and anger-management classes. “I went through AODA, anger management, thinking for a change, and things like that,” he said, adding those programs explain why he “haven't been in trouble in 8 years.”

Police Captain Melinda Pauls told Williams that the chief follows committee-established guidelines and that some charges yield automatic denials, but staff will accept further documentation. “If these are copies, I think generally, Cody, do you need to submit these?” she said while asking that Williams leave copies with the chief for review.

Clerk staff asked Williams to provide evidence of rehabilitation in writing and said the chief could then reassess the application at the next meeting. Committee members agreed they could not act without that additional proof and removed Williams from the list of recommended denials for reconsideration pending the chief’s review and receipt of documentation.

The committee handled a package of license approvals and denials as a single motion; after discussion, Alder Watson moved to accept the approvals and recommendations and to exclude Williams from denial pending documentation. The motion passed unanimously.