The Shawano Common Council approved new liquor licenses and renewed existing licenses, with one exception, on May 8.
The request for Shawano Cinema to have a class B beer and liquor license was reduced to a class B beer license before approval. Normally, licenses for alcohol get approved on the consent agenda, but City Clerk Lesley Nemetz requested the matter be discussed separately.
Nemetz said she spoke with the movie theater’s owner, Zeke Heling, and learned that the liquor part of the license would be used very sparingly. The reason she requested that the council approve only beer sales for Shawano Cinema is that the number of liquor licenses the city may grant through the state is very limited.
The city of Shawano is allowed to have 22 liquor licenses available to businesses that wish to use them, according to Nemetz, with two reserve businesses allowed to apply. Currently, there are 20 businesses that utilize liquor licenses in the city.
“We want to make sure that we have those for future developments, some that could be coming sooner rather than later,” Nemetz said. “I want to make sure we are thinking through what we are giving licenses for. Once a license is given to an establishment, it is very hard to get it back.”
It was the city finance committee that issued the recommendation for granting a beer license. There are no limits to beer licenses, according to Nemetz.
The reason there are limited numbers of liquor licenses for municipalities is that the Wisconsin Tavern League worked with the state to set quotas. Nemetz said the number doesn’t change based on population increase or decrease, and that once the city reaches its maximum, the only way it could get additional licenses is to request them from other towns or villages in Shawano County.
The two reserves have to pay $10,000 upfront and then be put on a wait list until a license becomes available if a business closes or changes its plans about serving alcohol.
There is an exception to the limits, but that only applies if a large hotel and conference center is built in the community and has a restaurant included.
“The law is very specific on what needs to be done to get additional liquor licenses,” Nemetz said.
Alderman Kevin Barkow noted that The Gathering is closing its doors, but he recommended against the liquor license for Shawano Cinema in case another banquet facility opens in the city.
“We need to make sure we have a liquor license available for them,” Barkow said.
Alderwoman Sandy Steinke was also against the Shawano Cinema liquor license, but for a different reason.
“A movie theater is a movie theater,” Steinke said. “You’re taking your family here. Your teenagers are going there on dates. I just don’t think it should be a place where liquor is served. Can you not hold off drinking for two hours while you’re with someone in your family? I think you can.”
The council voted 5-1 for the beer license, with Steinke opposed.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
