Citgo owner appeals denial of tobacco license; committee to deliberate in closed session

The Judiciary Administration Committee convened Sept. 1 as the Administrative Review Board to hear Christine Taylor’s appeal of the denial of a cigarette, tobacco and electronic vape (CTV) license for the Citgo at 1914 State Road and to consider a related Class A liquor and beer license application.

Taylor, who identified herself as the sole owner of Taxico Incorporated doing business as Citgo, said she has moved to La Crosse to run the store and asked the committee to grant the CTV license so she could hire staff and operate legally. “I absolutely love La Crosse and its people, and I have fully planted my 2 feet here to run the store,” Taylor said, adding she would “follow all the rules and regulations set forth by Wisconsin and the city of La Crosse.”

City counsel and police witnesses pushed back on whether the change in ownership and operation is genuine. Sergeant Danny Mandujano of the La Crosse Police Department walked members through documents that show a compressed timeline: the prior owner’s CTV denial on July 23; formation of a new LLC on July 24; a lease signed two days later; and a new license application on July 27. “They went to a sale agreement of the business to Miss Taylor,” Mandujano said, calling the sequence “very convenient” and urging the board to seek answers about ongoing involvement from previously implicated individuals.

Attorney Wertheimer, for the city, told the board he was concerned about discrepancies in supporting documents and whether the business represents a clean break from prior operations, saying, “I am concerned… about truthfulness and a clean break from the past.” Taylor and her nominated agent, Sheila Woodman, testified they intend to run the store and that Woodman would help with operations; Woodman acknowledged past police contacts at her residence related to foster-care placements but said she no longer houses teenagers.

After closing arguments, the committee voted unanimously to go into closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(a) to deliberate in its quasi-judicial role. The body said it will prepare a written decision and expects to resolve the administrative review before the next city council meeting, noting the Administrative Review Board has 20 days to issue its determination.