Over time, DeKalb has doled out many liquor licenses, and during the course of several decades the city has produced a liquor code that is excessively confusing. One of Mayor Frank Van Buer’s goals is to simplify that code. The Northern Star interviewed the mayor about how the city will handle Class A liquor licenses and other related matters.

Northern Star: Is there really a free market for bars? Is new competition allowed to come to DeKalb?

Frank Van Buer: It’s not a free market; anything you regulate isn’t a free market. We will always be regulating liquor sales.

NS: Is there a market for another Class A liquor license in DeKalb?

FV: I don’t know, I will defer to the liquor commission to have a discussion and make a recommendation. We don’t want too many licenses and new bars are closing down. We can’t let the market determine the number of bars. I don’t think the community would want to live in a town where everyone with enough money can open a bar. Some people shouldn’t have these licenses.

NS: What do you think about the unanimous 2004 city council vote to override an ordinance which would have allowed for an additional Class A liquor license when DeKalb’s population hit 40,000?

FV: That’s history, we can’t rely on what happened in the past. We have to be proactive and preemptive. Whether we like it or not, the liquor industry is important.

NS: How can you be proactive and preemptive?

FV: I am going to propose the position of a deputy liquor commissioner. The position would have to be approved by the city council and would report to the city manager. I would like one tomorrow but I understand we probably will not be able to get one until the next budget year beginning July 1. This person would work both days and nights and would act as a peace officer with the ability to issue tickets. I expect the commission will have a role in choosing the candidate and the deputy liquor commissioner would rely on the liquor commission. The mayor acts as the liquor commissioner but the job is a part-time job. We need someone to focus day in and day out. Over time we have had things fall through the cracks. We have got to center processes and focus on administration and regulation.

NS: How do you handle businesses that claim to be restaurants, but operate like bars?

FV: We passed a consideration last night to help us to more easily get direct, formal information that shows amount of revenue from alcohol. It is important to have an active, responsible liquor commission looking out for what is best for the community. We have a solid liquor commission right now.

NS: What do you see as your role on the liquor commission?

FV: My most important job is to be judge and jury, which means I need to be removed from some of the process.