Kenosha licensing committee recommends approvals, deferrals and a denial after review of operator and liquor applications

The Kenosha License & Permit Committee met July 13 and moved through a lengthy docket of operator and liquor license applications, approving some recommendations to city council, deferring others for more documentation, and recommending denial in one high‑profile case.

The committee voted to recommend approval of a new operator’s license for Samantha Moore, with the committee applying an 85‑point demerit condition after members reviewed letters of reference and heard the applicant’s statement. "I've been sober for almost 10 years," Samantha Moore told the committee, who also referenced supporting letters from community members. Committee members said the letters and the applicant’s record of sustained sobriety persuaded them to grant the recommendation.

Several other operator applicants were deferred so they could submit additional documentation and letters of recommendation. The city attorney told the committee that how an applicant records a case disposition (for example, using the word “dismissed”) can produce demerit‑point discrepancies if official records reflect different dispositions. "When I hear 'dismissed' I think it's gone," the city attorney explained in response to an applicant's question about why extra points were assigned; the committee urged applicants to ensure their application wording matches official records.

The committee also addressed multiple business license matters. It approved temporary event extensions for Notion Creative Space Inc. and Kenosha Taphouse LLC for upcoming July events, citing no adverse police recommendations. Scott Moriarty, representing the applicant for a venue transfer, told the committee the relocation will consolidate licenses and allow the operator to relinquish an overlapping license; the committee approved the transfer with standard conditions.

Salon De Monte and Eash Sports Car LLC each received approvals with amended operational conditions. Applicant Rosalba Rodriguez said staff would be trained on fake‑ID prevention and confirmed that security personnel would wear high‑visibility shirts rather than dark colors that might be mistaken for police uniforms. The committee asked that cabaret hours be reflected accurately on amended paperwork (committee members proposed a 4 p.m.–1 a.m. window for events), and approved the applications with those conditions.

In a denial recommendation that drew extended discussion, the committee recommended denial of a Class A beer and liquor license application for Muna Convenience Store LLC after reviewing recent police records showing multiple violations (listed in the city’s demerit system as failure to keep proper tobacco records, sale of alcohol without a license, unauthorized sources of alcohol and related counts). A committee member moved to deny the application "based on material police records substantially related to the license activity and false application," and the motion passed as the committee’s recommendation to city council.

On a split item involving two Class B applications, the committee separated the matters. It approved Bon Appétit as the new catering provider for Carthage College (application 12a) after attorney Harper Conover and on‑site manager Genevieve Milan described the contract and confirmed alcohol would be served only at catered campus events. For the competing application (12b), the committee denied the request, concluding that Applicant B did not present the same economic or operational case as Applicant A.

The committee concluded routine business by approving findings of fact and conclusions of law in a separate licensing matter and receiving a brief police department update indicating no notable incidents to report. The committee adjourned after a final voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Samantha Moore — motion to recommend approval at 85 demerit points: passed (committee recommendation to council).
- Wayne Zachary — deferred to allow submission of documentation and letters of reference; no final approval at this meeting.
- Charles Ostergard, Jeffrey Peruba and other individual operator applicants — deferred or approved subject to submission of character references or verification (committee set deadlines for materials).
- Notion Creative Space Inc. and Kenosha Taphouse LLC — temporary event extensions: approved.
- Keynote / Music Round (venue transfer) — approved with standard conditions.
- Salon De Monte / Salon Diamante (cabaret adjustments) — approvals with amended hours/conditions for Salon De Monte; Salon Diamante (12b) denied.
- Muna Convenience Store LLC — recommendation to deny to council based on material police records and false application: passed.

What happens next

Most approvals at the committee are recommendations to the full Common Council; several items (including the denials and any actions that are appealed) will be listed on the council agenda for July 20. Applicants who were deferred were given specific deadlines to submit letters of reference and supporting documentation to the clerk’s office.

Reporting note: this article is based on the committee meeting transcript; the committee’s recommendations will not be final until acted on by the Common Council where required.