Library staff and public commenters raised concerns about a proposed five‑year lease and potential rent increase for the local library. A representative said the prospective new landlord requested rent of $750 per month for the library space, up from $500 when the library began in 2015, and said the lease as written lacks specific language about the exact building location, early‑termination options and which party is responsible for utilities and general maintenance.

"They want to raise our rent to double," the library representative said, asking the court to clarify whether the lease would apply to a specified building or to the owner's broader property and whether the landlord would build a new facility within a year. Commissioners and staff discussed possible approaches, including issuing a one‑year temporary lease if the new facility is not yet built, or ensuring the lease explicitly transfers to any new building the owner constructs.

Why it matters: the library provides community services (reading programs, meeting rooms and youth services) and commissioners emphasized the importance of securing affordable and stable space. Commissioners requested clearer contractual language about tenant/landlord responsibilities for utilities and non‑structural maintenance, and directed staff to work with the librarian and county attorney to refine the lease.

County action and next steps: staff were asked to review and clarify the lease terms and return the item to the court after the holidays, with a request to separate the lease approval and inventory/sale action if the commission decides to auction library inventory. The court also allowed the library representative to return on a later agenda for follow‑up and documentation.

The transcript shows detailed back‑and‑forth about utilities, maintenance responsibilities, and a recommendation to make the lease conditional or short‑term pending a future dedicated building; staff committed to reviewing the lease with the county attorney and to provide a clarified draft at a subsequent meeting.