IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County agreed Wednesday to help the county fair board buy a liquor license at a cost of $50,000, a move aimed at generating revenues and reducing liabilities for Norway Speedway races.

“I want to thank you all for your support for the fair,” Commissioner John Degenaer Jr. said as the board allocated $10,000 in earnest money with $40,000 held in escrow until the permit is secured.

The county will expect repayment from the fair board by the end of 2026. It’s likely the permit won’t be in use until 2025, said Degenaer, who chairs the fair board.

The vote was held after a teleconference with attorney John Doyle of Okemos, who serves as counsel for the Michigan Association of Counties and who practices liquor license law.

The seller is a restaurant owner who has a potential buyer for the business that isn’t necessarily interested in having a liquor license, Degenaer said. The opportunity to get a license is a rarity and Doyle confirmed the price is attractive.

The main concern for commissioners is the liability that goes with the Class C license permitting the sale

of beer, wine and spirits in specially designated areas. Doyle said having a license would be “a better system that what you have now” as it provides more control.

Alcohol carry-ins are currently allowed during Norway Speedway races, a practice that has both the Dickinson County Racing Association and the fair board worried about a drunken fan leaving the premises and causing a traffic crash.

A license will carry state requirements for trained servers and other stipulations that taverns and restaurants typically deal with in Michigan, Doyle said.

The Upper Peninsula State Fair in Escanaba has a liquor license and it has worked well, Degenaer said. U.P. Fair officials have agreed to offer advice in obtaining the license through the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, which may take four to six months.

The license would add an extra insurance cost, but it’s believed the rider would be less than $1,500.

Commissioner Joe Stevens asked if the fair board getting a license might limit the availability of licenses for commercial interests. Doyle said licenses are, indeed, “a finite quantity” but exceptions are made where licenses are created for some enterprises.

Stevens said he was initially hesitant to accept the proposal, but the pros outweigh the cons. “I think the end result is less liability to the county,” he said.

Doyle explained the county itself is unable to pursue a license, as the board is comprised entirely of elected officials. The fair board now gets a temporary license each year that allows for a limited number of events.