Marinette County is giving itself and the City of Marinette more time to settle the future of the Stephenson Public Library.

County supervisors met Wednesday to consider setting a deadline for reaching a mutually acceptable agreement covering the maintenance and operation of the historic downtown library building.

The original proposal called for an agreement by September 30. During the meeting, supervisors amended that deadline to October 31.

Marinette Mayor Steve Genisot told supervisors the city wants the library to remain downtown and believes both sides should work together before any relocation is considered.

The county operates the Stephenson Public Library, but the building is owned by the city. County officials have raised concerns about continuing to invest in a building the county does not own without a formal long-term agreement.

If the two sides cannot reach an agreement by the new deadline, the county could begin the process of moving the library into the former library building at the UW–Green Bay Marinette campus.

Supervisors stressed that setting the deadline does not mean the relocation process begins immediately.\

The additional month is intended to give the city and county more time to continue negotiations. The City of Marinette has consistently said it wants the Stephenson Public Library to remain at its current downtown location.

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