By Bob Peryea
Correspondent
The Whitewater Common Council added two liquor licenses on Tuesday night as a response to growth.
The city will make two additional Class B liquor and beer licenses available to Whitewater restaurants and pubs.
The decision was prompted by supporters of the Black Sheep Restaurant, 210 W. Whitewater St., who came out in force to ask the council to grant a full liquor license to the business.
The Black Sheep, owned by Tyler Salisbery, currently has a Class B beer and wine license.
Several people rose to praise the food and atmosphere in the fine dining establishment and indicated a desire to have a cocktail with dinner.
City Clerk Michele Smith said the city could increase its liquor licenses by two based on 2011’s population. The city currently has 21 licenses, including two reserve licenses.
During the discussion, former councilmember Roy Nosek brought up the fact that Hawk Bowl, 1398 W. Main St., has two full liquor licenses on one premise that were granted several years ago and have been renewed without issue since.
“Have those owners held to the stipulations that were put in place when we (the council at the time) granted them two licenses?” Nosek asked.
The council indicated it they would ask city staff to review those stipulations, but there was no indication that the business wasn’t abiding by them.
In the end, the council opened up two more liquor licenses to area businesses. Black Sheep will need to apply for one of them as part of the normal licensing process.
In other news, Interim City Manager Cameron Clapper asked the council to reserve a meeting specifically for discussion of the 2013 budget. In lieu of a special meeting, it was decided that the regular monthly meeting on Aug. 21 will be dedicated exclusively to budget issues and conversations.
In addition, the council voted to fund a safety facility study to look at the needs of the fire department. The report, due later this year, will tell city officials if and where any expansion of the firehouses will need to be.
There was also a vote to grant a liquor license to Ben Walsh, whose initial application was denied. Walsh’s liquor license was granted with a one-year probation against any “relevant offense.”
