Liquor Law Approved With Little Discussion

It was with very little discussion that the Port Washington Common Council approved an ordinance that changes the requirements for applying for a new liquor license for a business in the city during its Tuesday night meeting.

"The ordinance that you have in front of you is essentially unchanged from our last meeting," Ald. Dave Larson said while introducing the ordinance Tuesday night. The council had discussed changes to the ordinances during its late February meeting, alterations made after meetings with business owners and addressing their concerns.

City Administrator Mark Grams and Main Street Executive Director Sara Grover had not heard any further concerns about the ordinance after that meeting; the law was approved unanimously.

The ordinance requires new businesses to offer a plan of operation as well as security plan before a liquor license application can be approved, but business owners were concerned about requiring cameras and how the process affected ownership changes, particularly within the family.

The reworked ordinance allows for family members or employees involved in the business for more than one year to be exempt from submitting a plan of operation for a new business when taking over ownership; it also takes away the requirement for outdoor cameras, while still requiring camera systems indoors.

The idea to strengthen the alcohol license ordinance sprouted after the closure of Foxys Bar and the controversial denial of a license to hopeful business owner Troy Koput that followed. Koput had been trying to launch Deville's Lounge, but his license was denied in December.

Learn more about the ordinance.