Douglas County will keep its office presence on South Iowa Street.

County commissioners agreed Wednesday to renew their lease for a treasurer’s and zoning office at 27th and Iowa streets. The county will pay $1,840 a month 6 percent more than the current rate to First Management Inc. for use of the space, which the county has occupied since 1999.

The new rate was stipulated in the original lease, on which the county agreed to exercise the first of its three-year options.

The office serves as one of four locations for county residents to renew their car tags, pay personal property taxes and handle other related matters. It handled 5,405 customers during the first three months of this year, or 19 percent of the treasurer’s customer load.

Commissioners approved the lease renewal on a 2-1 vote. Jere McElhaney, commission chairman, said he would rather own a building than lease one.

Commissioners Bob Johnson and Charles Jones said they would be willing to discuss the future of satellite offices during formation of an overall plan for new projects.

“I hate the idea of leasing,” Jones said.

In other action, commissioners:

l Approved a site plan for a Capitol Concrete Products Co. warehouse and office along the east side of U.S. Highway 24-59, about 600 feet north of U.S. Highway 24-40.

l Agreed to give Headquarters Inc. $2,599 to pay moving expenses associated with moving into the Charlton-Manley Building, 211 E. Eighth St. The fees will cover payments of Headquarters to other companies for hooking up phones and other such services. Johnson, who is a co-owner of the building, said his decision to vote for the county’s payment was not a conflict of interest. Jones agreed: “They’d have to spend that money no matter where they moved.”