WAUSAU — The death of a Wausau woman is prompting city officials to take a closer look at the operations of a west-side tavern.

In a letter dated May 8, city officials directed Richard Gordon to attend a meeting with the public health and safety committee. Gordon is the owner of M & R Station, 818 S. Third Ave., in Wausau.

The city’s concerns stem from a February report of a highly intoxicated woman who died shortly after leaving the bar, according to the letter. The name of the woman who died was not disclosed in the letter.

According to the police report, police were called at 6:15 a.m. on Feb. 23 to a residence in the 700 block of South Third Avenue to a report of a suspicious death. Investigators learned that the woman who died had been at M & R Station the night before and was so intoxicated she lost consciousness at the bar. No one at the bar called for an ambulance, but instead the bar owner and two patrons carried the woman to her home and turned her over to her husband, according to the report. When the woman’s husband awoke the next morning, he discovered his wife dead, police said. The woman was employed as a bartender at M & R Station but was not on duty that night.

In his report to the committee, Lt. Michael Felder wrote:

“It was evident through the investigation that had employees from the barcalled an ambulance or police when the decedent had first become unresponsive, the chances of saving her life would have been drastically improved.”

M & R Station opened in May 2015 in the building that previously was home to Sidetracked Bar. In January 2014, a 27-year-old Wausau man was fatally shot in the parking lot of Sidetracked, which later closed.

Since taking ownership of the tavern, Gordon and his wife completely remodeled the interior, installing a new kitchen and new furnishings. They also took several precautions to improve safety for patrons, including installing a 16-camera security system and hiring security and bouncers.

Tonight, Gordon will have an opportunity to make his case before the committee. But if future violations arise, the tavern’s liquor license could be revoked.