John Degenaer Jr. of Norway stands in August 2024 in front of the building named in his honor at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in Norway. The fair board now reportedly plans to remove his name and install a recognition plaque. (Daily News file photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Dickinson County Fair Board wants to sell its newly acquired liquor license but has yet to find a buyer.

During a county board meeting Monday, Commissioner Victoria Jakel said the fair board believes the license is “more trouble than it’s worth.”

Jakel and County Board Chairman Dan Harrington are the board’s two representatives on the 11-member fair board, which is reluctant to prohibit alcohol carry-ins at the fairgrounds’ Norway Speedway. Harrington was excused from Monday’s meeting for travel.

In September 2024, commissioners allocated $50,000 to help the fair board buy the license, expecting repayment to the county by the end of 2026. Four new members were seated on the five-member county board at the beginning of 2025 and the idea of selling the license at a profit came up only a month later.

The former county board had committed to the license after a May 2024 teleconference with attorney John Doyle of Okemos, who serves as counsel for the Michigan Association of Counties and who practices liquor law. Doyle had acknowledged the Class C license permitting the sale of beer, wine and spirits in specially designated areas would carry risks, but concluded it would be “a better system that what you have now.” Norway Speedway is one of the few racetracks in the Midwest that allows alcohol carry-ins.

The county board in 2024 was persuaded as well by reports that a liquor license had been profitable for the Upper Peninsula State Fair in Escanaba and that the $50,000 price was attractive.

Jakel on Monday said the fair board is concerned about meeting Michigan Liquor Control Commission requirements — including training for servers — along with added liability risks associated with sales.

It was expected that the process of obtaining the license could take four to six months, but it ended up being more than a year. The license was formerly held by Talons Supper Club in Norway.

In another development, Jakel confirmed the fair board has plans to rename the John Degenaer Jr. Administration Building at the Norway fairgrounds.

During citizens’ time, Elizabeth Stack of Norway asked whether it was true that former Commissioner and Fair Board Chairman Degenaer’s name was being removed. Jakel, who defeated Degenaer in the 2024 county board election, explained that a vote was taken by the fair board to replace Degenaer’s name on the building with a plaque that would recognize his efforts — and those of others — in putting up the structure.

“I believe it passed,” she said.

Commissioner Joe Stevens said he was disappointed in the reported move, saying it “would be a real insult” both to Degenaer and to fair board members who in 2024 approved the naming of the building. He also asked whether the matter should come before the county board.

Stevens, having served with Degenaer for decades, said he “always respected” his work, even when they had disagreements. Degenaer, often the only Democrat on the county board, had helped lead the fair for 40 years.

The county board, in another matter, accepted the resignation of Anthony Grudnoski of Quinnesec from the fair board. Grudnoski has served on the panel since 2023 and the vacancy will be advertised.

The county board, with Stevens dissenting, voted 4-1 in November to reduce the size of the fair board from 13 members to 11 — the same as it had been three years prior. The reduction was achieved in December as Liane Arnold, James Stachowicz and Rob Barkle were reappointed to terms of three years, while Ashley Edwards and Tom Bedard were not.

County Clerk-Register of Deeds Carol Bronzyk said neither of the former fair board members expressed interest in filling Grudnoski’s seat when contacted. Other current members of the fair board are Chairman Charles Parker, John Gunville, Beth Bray, James Dal Santo and Michael Gregg.

The county, as of this week, had not received minutes of the fair board’s February meeting.

In other action, the county board:

— With Harrington absent, removed from the agenda consideration of a resolution concerning the fate of the deer at Iron Mountain City Park. The resolution expresses the county’s willingness to “engage in cooperative discussions” with the city regarding the deer, “limited to non-monetary and non-binding forms of assistance.” Facing licensing pressures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the city council on Feb. 1 voted 5-2 to eliminate the pen and herd rather than enact a plan to convert it to a breeding facility under veterinary supervision.

— Also tabled consideration of proposed amendments to its rules for public participation at board meetings.

— Approved the sale of a hangar at Ford Airport to Halvas LLC for $150,000. The hangar will continue to be occupied by Classic Areo Maintenance, which has been renting the structure from the county, Controller Brian Bousley said. The county had acquired the hangar several years ago in connection with a possible airport terminal expansion, but the scope of those plans has since changed, he explained. The county’s acquisition price was slightly less than $120,000.

— Reappointed Ann Frey of Iron Mountain to a three-year term on the Dickinson County Planning Commission. One vacancy remains.

— Held a moment of silence for former Board Chairman Henry Wender, who passed away Jan. 22. Wender had a nearly 50-year career of local political service, including 35 years as a county commissioner and 17 straight years as board chairman.

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