About a year ago, DeKalb Mayor Frank Van Buer ran on a platform proclaiming he would reform the city’s confused liquor code. He’s doing just that, beginning two nights ago at the liquor commission meeting.

For those who missed yesterday’s issue, the Northern Star ran an investigative package into the city’s liquor code, concentrating specifically on Class A licenses, which are required to operate a bar.

Did you know that a grocery store — such as Jewel-Osco, located on Sycamore Road — has the same liquor license as a place like Molly’s? We didn’t. It’s a problem, but it’s a problem the mayor and city officials are now working on.

At the commission meeting, Van Buer declared Class A licenses will now be only Class A licenses, meaning stores and bars will be classified into exclusive categories. What does this mean in the end? A lot of things.

Class A licenses will eventually be up for grabs once all the stores are sorted out of the mix, so places like The Barn can operate as they want to. The Barn currently has a Class E license, which mandates that no more than 60 percent of its sales can come from alcohol. The rest must be food. Realistically, it’s difficult for them to operate within those margins given their location off Greek Row.

Beyond that, Class E businesses allow minors into their restaurant areas. As a Class A, however, businesses have the opportunity to card patrons at the door, thereby wholly avoiding the underage situation and its nasty consequences on nights when little league teams aren’t likely to pass through. Of course, this is hypothetical, and The Barn, like other businesses, will make its own judgment call after the benefits are weighed.

Keep in mind, it’s not that the city really needs more Class A-type bars. People seem to be getting drunk, so that’s not the issue.

Rather, the city is now working on a cohesive policy worthy of presentation to local business owners and potential owners. Like a Unified Development Ordinance, which tells developers how they can lawfully build in a city. It just makes things easier. Good job, mayor.

And community development officials ought to be pleased, as well. They are very nearly obsessed with livening up the downtown area and have the plans in place, minus the capital to get it all rolling at once. But the plans will indeed get moving and policy changes such as these will only help their cause, which in the end is most everyone’s cause: a community built on vitality and relevance.