DeKALB | The liquor commission approved a different set of fees for new liquor-serving establishments in the campus area.

The commission approved the Class AC initial liquor license issuance fee of $12,500 and an annual renewal fee $3,750. The proposed initial issuance fee started at $60,000 with an annual renewal fee of $5,000. The AC licence is for bars and liquor stores.

The commission also approved a Class EC initial liquor license issuance fee of 8,000 and an annual renewal fee of $3,750. The EC liquor license issuance fee was originally proposed at $11,000 with an annual renewal fee of $6,800. The EC license is for restaurants that serve liquor.

These fees apply only to establishments acquiring liquor licenses in the future.

AC and EC liquor licenses apply to businesses that lie west of First Street, north of the Union Pacific railroad tracks, east of Stadium Drive and a line extending north and south from it and south of Ridge Drive.

Commission member Michael Embrey voiced concerns that the E license has been an issue. The Class E liquor license was intended for restaurants to serve liquor with food.

“It just so happened that some people found a loophole in the Class E and that’s where we’ve had problems,” said commission chair Jeff Whelan.

Wanting to be fair to businesses, the liquor commission approved a lesser initial amount for the EC license.

“To build a bar with all the equipment needed is more than building a restaurant,” Embrey said. “We do have problem children, but those problem children are spoiling it for everyone else.”

The commission also approved an issuance fee increase of three percent per year over the next 10 years for liquor license classes B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J and K totaling a 30 percent increase.

While city services are required to pay for themselves, “our fees have not changed in ten years,” said Norma Guess, city attorney.

Over the last 10 years, costs for city services have increased, justifying the increase in fees.

A six percent increase in issuance fees was approved by the commission for Class D liquor license holders, typically grocery stores, while a three percent increase in Class D-D licenses, such as a specialty grocery market was also approved.