IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County Fair officials might back off a plan to take more control over alcohol at Norway Speedway, instead allowing carry-ins to continue.

Commissioner Victoria Jakel reported Monday during a county finance meeting that a liquor license has been approved for the fair board, but it’s considering selling it at a profit. “It’s just ideas we’re batting around,” said Jakel, a new member of the fair board.

County Clerk-Register of Deeds Carol Bronzyk said the move last year to acquire the license came after an attorney advised it would lessen liability risks.

Jakel, who was seated in January, is one of four new commissioners on the five-member county board. She and Chairman Dan Harrington have replaced former commissioners John Degenaer Jr. and Ann Martin as the county’s representatives on the 13-member fair board. Degenaer, until leaving the county board, had chaired the fair board.

After learning from Degenaer that a liquor license had become available, the county board in May held a teleconference with attorney John Doyle of Okemos. Doyle serves as a counsel for the Michigan Association of Counties and also practices liquor law.

Commissioners inquired about the liability that would go with a Class C license permitting the sale of beer, wine and spirits in specially designated areas. Doyle advised that the fair board having a license would be “a better system than what you have now,” as it would provide more control.

On Monday, Jakel said the license transfer has been approved by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, but it’s not yet in hand. The license would carry state requirements for trained servers and other stipulations that taverns and restaurants typically deal with.

Degenaer, in May, noted the Upper Peninsula State Fair in Escanaba has a liquor license that has worked out well. Commissioners at that time decided that pursuing a license through the fair board would generate revenues and reduce liability should a traffic crash occur after a speedway event.

In response to a question from Commissioner Joe Stevens about the status of the license, Jakel discussed the possibility of selling it. Concerns have been raised that prohibiting alcohol carry-ins will be unpopular, she said. There are also worries that servers might not perform up to expectations, she said.

“The liability has to really be looked at,” said Stevens, who is the only returning member on the county board.

The county board in September committed $50,000 to help the fair board buy the license, expecting repayment by the end of 2026. The fair board must seek consent from the county board if the license is ever under consideration of being sold.

The license being transferred was formerly held by Talons Supper Club in Norway.

In other action Monday, the county board:

— Received notice of a lawsuit filed by Jason Gibbs of Iron Mountain. Gibbs contends the board’s Jan. 13 decision to deny funds allocated to Michigan State University Extension in the 2025 budget violates Michigan law because no budget amendment was proposed or passed. Gibbs, in a statement, said his petition for writ of mandamus is intended to hold the board accountable, as the $81,000 was legally appropriated in December. “The board’s failure to justify its actions in public will now be addressed in circuit court, where they will be required to provide a legal rationale, or else be ordered to release the funds,” he said. Paul Putnam, Extension district director, said during citizens’ time that MSU was not involved in filing the court complaint. Among other Extension services, the funding was meant to enable a full-time 4-H youth program coordinator. Chairman Harrington has already denied Stevens’ request for a meeting between the board and Putnam.

— Approved paying $1,000 in annual dues to the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress. UPCAP is designated by the state as the regional Area Agency on Aging. It advocates for and provides services to older adults in the U.P.’s 15 counties.

— Denied payment of $400 to the Northwoods Rail Transit Commission for annual administrative fees. The county now has little participation in the commission, which was formed to advocate for quality rail service in northern Wisconsin and the U.P.

— Heard Stevens report that he and others in the community met during the weekend with newly elected U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., who also attended the FIS Continental Cup tournament at Pine Mountain. Stevens said Slotkin’s message was, “What can I do for you?”

— Heard Stevens, in another matter, say he would like to see Pine Mountain ski jumping featured prominently in the state’s Pure Michigan campaign.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.