IRON MOUNTAIN — It’s been more than four months since the Dickinson County Board decided to schedule a meeting to discuss the 4-H youth program and other Michigan State University Extension services it had denied 2025 funding.

That meeting may finally take place. After a dozen citizens voiced support Monday for 4-H and Extension programs, Controller Brian Bousley on Tuesday set a tentative Aug. 25 date.

Extension District Director Paul Putnam told the board Monday he’s willing to address “any and all questions” about “who we are and what we do.” County funding for the Extension, he added, is “entirely at your discretion.”

On July 14, Putnam informed the board that without county support MSU would no longer be able provide a full-time 4-H coordinator with an office at Bay College’s Iron Mountain campus. The relationship between the county and MSU Extension has been up in the air since the board’s decision in January to remove $81,000 in Extension funding from the 2025 budget.

The county since 2023 has provided enough funding to allow Jessica Ice to fill the 4-H position full time. At the same time, MSU has expanded offerings from regional educators in other areas, such as agriculture, health and nutrition, natural resources, community and family.

Newly elected chairman Dan Harrington proposed denying the MSU funding in January. Only longtime Commissioner Joe Stevens dissented.

Stevens has since pressed for a meeting to hear more from Putnam. His proposal in March to schedule a session received support from commissioners Victoria Jakel and Kevin Sullivan; commissioner Peter Swanson was absent.

Stevens in January described 4-H as “probably one of the best ways to spend money that you can find in a county.”

Citizen speakers Monday offered similar views, including 16-year-old Emma Wright of Norway, who drew applause after tributing 4-H and describing it as “a pipeline for leadership.”

Ice, the 4-H coordinator, spoke as well. She reviewed the range of clubs offered and their importance to young people. She added she’s “open to a conversation with anyone” about the program.

Money allocated for MSU Extension has been drawn from the county’s share of adult-use marijuana state tax distributions, which totaled $177,259 in 2024 and rose to $232,915 this year. State and federal funding is the Extension’s main support, but counties help pay for programming to fit specific needs.

Lynne Wilson of Breitung Township told the board it was nonsense that a meeting had yet to be scheduled. “You need to set up a meeting tonight,” she said.

Stevens asked that a date be set on the spot, but Harrington objected.

Challenged during a February meeting about the MSU funding decision, Harrington had described 4-H as “a woke, crazy organization” and the Extension services agreement as “the rich stealing from the poor taxpayers of the county.”

Stevens is the only returning board member from 2024, when Extension funding was approved. The other four commissioners were newly elected in November and seated Jan. 1.

In other action, the board:

— Reported the Dickinson County Fair Board was expected to receive a liquor license soon, as questions were raised about arrangements for this year’s fair. In the past, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission has granted a temporary permit for Merriman Farmers Union beer, sales but Harrington said that apparently wasn’t being allowed this year.

On Tuesday, the fair board issued this statement:

“The Dickinson County Fair Board is in the process of obtaining a permanent liquor license. The permanent liquor license is not guaranteed to be put in place at the commencement of the 2025 fair. There are temporary liquor licenses secured for the applicable events at the fair, which will allow for the sale of alcohol during those events, pending the permanent license, which is not granted at the time of the fair. The Dickinson County Fair Board looks forward to seeing you at the fair, and we appreciate your support.”

This year’s county fair is Aug. 28 through Sept. 1.

The application process for a liquor license began in September when the previous county board committed $50,000 to help the fair board buy a Class C liquor license formerly held by Talons Supper Club in Norway. The expectation was that it would be a revenue source and lower liability risks associated with grandstand carry-ins at Norway Speedway events. The county’s understanding was the license would require trained servers and the fair board would repay the funds.

— In a 4-1 vote, appointed Brian Swanson of Norway to a partial term on the fair board expiring Dec. 31, 2027. Craig Suheski of Vulcan also applied and received support from Stevens.

— Accepted with regret the resignation of Carlene Kavelaris from the Dickinson County Planning Commission.

— Approved a request from EAA Chapter 439 to host Ford Airport Day at Ford Airport on Saturday, Sept. 13.

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