City of Oconomowoc - Thursday night, city of Oconomowoc alderman told several Oconomowoc businesses, including the upscale Club Porticello restaurant on Silver Lake, that they need to pay off outstanding fees by June 30 or they would not be renewed their liquor license starting July 1.
Included in the group are the Olympia Sports Center and the future Blue Ribbon restaurant that will be located at the southwest corner of the Highway 67 and Valley Road intersection.
City of Oconomowoc ordinance states that a business cannot obtain a liquor license if they are found to have deliquent taxes, assesments or other claims outstanding including money owed to alcohol vendors.
Porticello, which was found to owe over $35,000 in taxes as well as over $18,000 in special council fees relating to the Board of Zoning Appeals meetings they have took part in while obtaining "area" and "use" variances in recent months, which allows the business to operate.
However, aldermen raised the concern on whether or not these fees should have to be paid by Porticello owner Tony Pipito as the money was for a special council attorney and not normal City Attorney Bill Chapman who often times sits in on the Zoning Board of Appeals meetings, but was not part of the Porticello appeal hearings due to what is said to be a conflict of interests.
The alderman motion for Porticello's case was that that Pipito and his Attorney Michael Krill will have to reach an agreement with the city that they will agree on a resolution determining whether or not Pipito is to pay for the special attorney fees, by June 30 as well.
Five other businesses either paid off outstanding fees prior to the Thursday night hearing, or else they arranged an agreement and payment plan with their utility provider like the Corner Stone Pub and Eatery has done in order to obtain their license by July 1, for the 2008-2009 year.
The new Maxim's at the Oconomowoc Depot was another business who will receive a license after paying outstanding fees. They however were not part of the hearing as they are a new business.
If the three business, Porticello, Blue Ribbon, and Olympia Sports Center do not pay their fees by June 30, they will not be renewed their license starting July 1, but it is still possible for them to reapply after this date and go through the application process again once their payments are cleared, assuming their is still licenses available at that time, accoroding to Oconomowco Mayor Maury Sullivan.