Wood County purchases Four Stools Short. Here’s what they have planned for the bar and neighboring properties.

WISCONSIN RAPIDS − As Wood County comes within a few months of finishing work on the new Wood County Sheriff's Office and Jail , officials are looking at how to improve parking for visitors and county employees.

Part of that solution included recently purchasing Four Stools Short, 180 Second St. N., which sits across Market Street from the Wood County Courthouse.

When will Four Stools Short close?

Wood County recently finalized the purchase of Four Stools Short in Wisconsin Rapids, Wood County Board Chairman Lance Pliml said. The county already owns the three buildings that are on Market Street, behind the tavern, he said.

The contract between the county and owner of Four Stools Short agrees that the tavern can stay open until January, Pliml said. The county hoped to give the owner and employees enough time to find a new location — if the owner chooses to keep the tavern going — or find new jobs.

The Four Stools Short Facebook page states it was a difficult decision, but it will be closing in January.

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What does the county plan to do with the space?

The plan is to raze the four buildings and turn the block into parking for the courthouse, Pliml said. The current plan is to tear down the four buildings at the same time the county takes down the old Wood County Jail, Pliml said. It will be more cost-effective to do all the demolition work while the equipment is there, he said.

Another idea that has been discussed, but has not been decided on, is closing Market Street in front of the courthouse and continuing the parking over that section of the street. Pliml said there still needs to be discussions with the city of Wisconsin Rapids to learn what will work best for everyone.

Why is the new parking space needed?

County officials are concerned with the lack of parking spaces for people with mobility issues, Pliml said. People using the county's Baker Street parking lot have to cross Baker Street and walk to the center of the Market Street block to enter the courthouse. When the new building opens and the entrance is moved, the distance will be even farther, Pliml said.

Wood County and Wisconsin Rapids officials and employees have been working together to find the best solutions for both the city and the county, Pliml said.

"We're really lucky we've had Wisconsin Rapids to work with," Pliml said. "They've been great partners."

Nothing has been decided about the final parking solutions, especially for those with mobility issues, Pliml said. One of the ideas being considered is making the parking on Market Street in front of the courthouse angled parking for accessible parking.

Contact Karen Madden at 715-345-2245 or kmadden@gannett.com . Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33 .

This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Wood County purchases Four Stools Short. Here’s what they have planned for the bar and neighboring properties.