DeKALB | Where to draw the line, literally, when issuing liquor licenses was addressed at Tuesday’s Liquor Commission meeting.

Members debated whether or not liquor licenses should be divided by geographical location.

If separated by geography, fees would be drastically raised for Class A holders. Licenses that were previously $3,000 would be increased to $30,000 for non-campus locations and $60,000 for near-campus locations described as west of First Street; north of the Union Pacific railroad tracks; east of Stadium Drive and a line extending north and south from it; south of Ridge Drive and a line extending west from it to the northerly extension of Stadium Drive.

Norma Guess, city attorney, said higher prices for establishments near campus are justified because of the inordinate amount of city and police time required to monitor those establishments.

Mike Embrey, liquor commission member, opposed geographical classification because it would be unfair discrimination against campus bars. He added that higher fees might drive businesses away from campus and would not attract any new establishments.

The commission also proposed a new type of liquor license, the package license. This would allow stores to sell packaged liquors in original containers, not to be consumed on the premises. Such licenses would take the place of five Class A liquor licenses. This raised the question among some commission members of whether DeKalb would be willing to issue more Class A liquor licenses without resolution.