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Keeping owners, managers, and stakeholders up to date on issues affecting their businesses.

Viewing posts in "Ordinances".

DOL Issues New Tip Regulations, but Rule’s Future Remains Uncertain

On December 22, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule revising the FLSA’s tip regulations. In theory, the new rule will go into effect on March 01, 2021. However, it is anticipated that either the Democratic-controlled Congress or incoming Biden administration may eliminate or make substantial revisions to the rule before it can take effect. Employers are encouraged to consult with legal counsel prior to making changes to their tip pooling practices.

Public Health of Madison and Dane County Notifies Licensed Food and Drink Establishments of Increased Enforcement Efforts to Combat COVID-19

On September 14th, Public Health Madison & Dane County sent a letter to all licensed establishments in Madison (with a copy to all licensed food and drink establishments in Dane County) to remind them of the provisions of PHMDC’s Emergency Order #9 and inform them of the possibility of increased fines if they do not comply with public health order

Update on Wedding Barns and Alcohol Licenses: Conflicting Interpretations from Prior Administration Lead to Lawsuit Seeking Declaratory Judgment

Whether alcohol licenses are required for wedding barns continues to remain uncertain as a lawsuit is filed against the Evers Administration over the prior administration’s conflicting interpretations of Wisconsin’s alcohol licensing laws.

As discussed in a prior post, on November 16, 2018, former Attorney General Brad Schimel issued an informal and nonbinding analysis of Wisconsin’s alcohol license laws concluding that event venues, like wedding barns, qualify as “public places” under Wis. Stat. § 125.09(1), requiring an alcohol license to allow the consumption of alcohol on premises.

Avoid Platted Easements

Every developer who subdivides property, by plat or certified survey map (both of which I’ll refer to as “plats,”), eventually has to deal with the question of how to make provision for necessary utility easements. Frequently, municipalities, civil engineers, and surveyors suggest granting easements by placing a notation on the face of the plat itself. To do so avoids the need to negotiate, sign, and record separate easement agreements with each utility provider. Problem solved, right?