The City of Prescott will soon consider opening two liquor licenses for application as part of an upcoming discussion at the next Health and Safety Committee meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m. July 14. At the June 23 regular Prescott City Council meeting, the council went into public comment and discussed the liquor license issue.

City officials confirmed that Prescott currently holds a total of seven regular liquor licenses and five reserve licenses. Of these, one regular and one reserve license remain unassigned and may be made available to local businesses, pending review and approval by the council. City Clerk Rashel Temmers hopes the application process for these licenses can get figured out so “the establishments can make some money and the city can make some money on those instead of just sitting on them.” She added, “I would like to see the Health and Safety Committee revisit this so that we can get these out.”

The open liquor license is a longstanding asset acquired by the city prior to 1997, which qualifies it for a significantly lower application fee — just $500. City Administrator Matt Wolf explained, “The regular Class B license held by Steamboat Inn, was left unassigned by the city in hopes to attract a new user of the licenses at the site.” He added, “Unfortunately to date that has not materialized.”

In contrast, the reserve liquor license has been awarded to Prescott more recently due to an increase in the city’s population. State law mandates that reserve licenses issued after 1997 must be offered at a minimum cost of $10,000. Alderperson Mike Gerke questioned why one person would have to pay more money for the same license. “I just thought the new person would pay the same amount as anybody else.”

“Everything post 1997 is called a liquor license reserve,” Wolf explained. “And that’s the one that you have to charge I think a minimum of $10,000.”

“Do we have people wanting that license?” asked Gerke.

“Oh yes,” Temmers quickly replied mentioning approximately six recent inquiries. With multiple establishments wanting the licenses, the city council will have to determine how to approve the licenses.

The City of Prescott has seen steady population growth in recent years, prompting the State of Wisconsin to allocate the reserve license. These licenses are highly sought after and allow for the sale of alcoholic beverages under specific regulations, making them a valuable opportunity for restaurants, bars, or other qualifying businesses seeking to expand their offerings.

“We got one (license) because our population increased then?” questioned Otwell.

“As of the census that we received in 2024,” confirmed Temmers.

Those interested in applying for either license may follow updates on the City of Prescott’s official website or contact the city clerk’s office for more information at 715-262-5544.