AUBURN -- City court will be staying put through 2012.

Auburn City Council approved on Thursday, a new five-year lease with Cayuga County for Auburn City Court. The court will continue to be located on the first floor of the Historic Post Office at 157 Genesee St., Auburn.

The city will rent the 6,327 square foot space in the county-owned building at a rate of $13 per square foot, for a total annual fee of $82,252.30. That price will rise by 25 cents a square foot every year through the end of the lease, according to the agreement.

Councilors passed the resolution and ratified the lease during a work session meeting. The Cayuga County Legislature approved the lease May 27 during its last monthly meeting.

The lease was previously a point of contention between city officials and the county Public Works Committee. The last lease required the city to pay $11.80 per square foot, while the committee was asking for $14.

Both parties were able to reach an agreement after some negotiating, Mayor Michael Quill said Thursday.

"The county is happy, and we're happy to have a working agreement," Quill said.

For the full report, read Friday's edition of The Citizen.