Board approves festival liquor license, forms committee to study new food‑truck liquor option under 2026 special law

The Douglas County Board approved a one-to-four-day temporary on‑sale liquor license for the Spruce Hill Foundation to serve alcohol during the Rose City Threshing and Heritage Festival (July 24–26) and voted to form a committee to study how to implement a recently enacted 2026 special law that would permit food trucks to obtain similar temporary licenses in the county.

Auditor‑Treasurer Vicki Donlin told commissioners the Spruce Hill Foundation applied for a temporary license for the three‑day festival; township consent was provided, but the county will forward the state application only after the applicant supplies liquor‑liability insurance and the county completes background checks with the sheriff and county attorney. The board approved the license while noting those standard contingencies.

On a separate item, Donlin explained the 2026 special law lets food trucks operating at private events in Douglas County be eligible for a one‑year trial of temporary one‑to‑four‑day on‑sale liquor licenses if the county board opts in under Minnesota Statute 645.021. Because the law is new to the county, the board approved forming a committee to examine insurance requirements, potential county ordinances or local rules, and implementation questions. Commissioners said they expect the committee to report back by the end of the year so the county can decide whether to adopt the special‑law option for 2027.

Event organizers present said the Spruce Hill Foundation festival has run multiple years and that event logistics (pavilion use, packet pick‑up) and expected attendance (approximately 180 runners were cited for a similar event) were in order. The board approved the permit and the committee formation by motion.