By Sara Marls

A tentative agreement has been reached between Stevens Point and Portage County on the future of the county library lease.

Negotiating teams for the city and county made the preliminary agreement on Thursday and largely embodies the last offer made by the county, which includes footing the bill for about $500,000 in previously- identified capital repairs over a new 10 year lease term. The county would pay for the first $2000 of any additional repairs to the building, while the city would pay for more expensive upkeep.

Under the terms of the old lease, the county was responsible for all repairs under $3,500.

The agreement means the main branch of the Portage Co. Library would likely stay in its current downtown location, providing the agreement is approved by the Stevens Point Common Council and the Portage Co. Board of Supervisors.

Stevens Point Comptroller-Treasurer Corey Ladick said there are no operational expenses for the city to incur in the tentative agreement, adding, “On the capital side of things, the county really is taking the largest chunk right now. As far as anything else that could come up, it’s not really a change from where we’re at right now.”