SIDNEY — After tabling discussions for two months, the Shelby County Agricultural Society (fair board) voted, April 19, to permit the sale and consumption of beer on the fairgrounds during the 2017 Shelby County Fair.

Lengthy discussions continued during this most recent meeting before Dan Geise made the motion, Jake Yinger seconded it, and the vote came in at 11 in favor and seven against. Seven members abstained from the vote.

In a second measure, the board voted to limit sales and consumption to a fenced section near the grandstand. That motion was made by Yinger, seconded by Tyler Geise, and approved by a vote of 11 in favor and four against, with 10 abstentions. A discussion about designating what days beer sales would occur was tabled. Fair Board President Mitch Brautigam appointed Aaron Heilers, James Bensman, Yinger and Scott Bertsch to an ad hoc committee charged with preparing a proposal for presentation at the next fair board meeting.

In other business, the board:

• Approved a two-year contract for a credit card reader at a one-time charge of $75, an annual fee of $35 and a monthly fee of $5. The machine will permit payments to the fair board to be made by credit card. Fair admissions will be for sale by credit card, too, but only in the fair board office.

• Voted to approve a letter of memorandum that would permit the Junior Fair headquarters to move into the Ohio State University Extension office for the 2018 fair.

• Accepted the following reports: The fair book will be printed in early May; construction of the grandstand will begin about May 14; the culinary department has added junior baking classes for children up to 12, who will be judged on a dozen cupcakes, and for teens, 13-17, who will be judged on a decorated sheet cake, for first prizes of $100 and second prizes of $50; times and rules have been established for a Ninja warrior contest and a 14-foot warped wall and the course layout have been planned; the rabbit and chicken barn is almost complete; the Case tractor has been repaired at a cost of $1,000; this year’s liability insurance premiums will cost $13,000, an increase of $1,000; Phase 2 of the horse barn drainage project has been postponed to next fall to accommodate horse shows.