FILE — THE GRANDSTANDS AT the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in Norway will be repainted under a proposal the county board accepted July 25. Steve Johnson and Sons Painting of Foster City will be contracted for the work at a cost of $83,170. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — The painting of the grandstands at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in Norway has hit a snag as the contractor wants an additional $30,000 to $40,000 for paint.

After awarding a not-to-exceed contract of $83,170 to Steve Johnson and Sons Painting on July 25, the county board Monday rejected a request for a change order.

“He bid it according to what he thought he’d use,” Commissioner Joe Stevens said, adding the need for more paint shouldn’t be the county’s problem.

Commissioner John Degenaer Jr., who chairs the fair board, offered a motion to accept the Foster City contractor’s request, but it died for lack of a second.

“I’d hate to see the project die,” Chairman Henry Wender said, asking if Degenaer could try to negotiate further.

Degenaer agreed to do that, explaining the primer is covering far less wood than estimated by the paint manufacturer. “I’m just the messenger,” he said.

In his proposal, Johnson estimated the paint expense at more than $15,000, with the project also requiring rental of a pair of 65-foot lifts. He had agreed to submit a change order if costs ran higher.

Stevens had voted against the original contract, suggesting the county could save by doing its own preparatory work. The board awarded the job in hopes of having it completed by the Sept. 1-5 county fair, but Degenaer acknowledged it may now be stalled.

In another matter, Degenaer said the fair might have problems finding enough people to work as ticket sellers. Having their earnings subjected to tax reporting has caused some people to get out of the rotation, he said.

In other action, the county board:

— Appointed Ann Hruska to the Dickinson County Solid Waste Management Planning Committee for a term ending June 1, 2025. There are more vacancies on the panel, Controller Brian Bousley noted.

— Heard Bousley mention there is an offer to purchase neighboring county property as part of a potential sale of Pine Mountain Ski & Golf Resort. The sale could affect the Kiwanis Ski Club, which hosts the Pine Mountain ski jumping tournament, so there will be more discussions if a proposal goes forward, he said. The ski jump property itself, which is owned by the county and leased to the Kiwanis, is not part of the offer, he added.

— Will have the first in a series of discussions on mental health needs at both the state and community level at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Breitung Township Hall in Quinnesec. State Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, is expected to attend, along with various mental health stakeholders, including law enforcement. The emphasis, Bousley said, will be on “what can we effectively change” and not merely complaints. The idea for the talks was put forward in June during a county board meeting attended by Jen Cescolini, CEO of Northpointe Behavioral Healthcare System, a provider of mental health services in Dickinson, Iron and Menominee counties.