File Photo The Ward County Human Service Zone vacated the fourth floor of the Ward County Administration Building in September. The county commission now is contemplating renting out the space.

The Ward County Commission is contemplating leasing the fourth floor of the county administration building, which has been vacant since the Ward County Human Service Zone relinquished the space in September.

The commission’s building committee has had conversations with potential tenants, including other government-related entities.

Commissioners voted in agreement Tuesday to lease space to one or more renters. More detailed talks with interested parties will be needed before moving ahead with any lease or leases, though. Commissioners also directed the auditor’s office to seek out information on recommended lease language. Some information already has been obtained from other North Dakota counties that lease space.

As part of any lease, a number of issues would need to be worked through, including maintaining building security, providing housekeeping and use of any county technology equipment.

Meanwhile, the commission decided to seek proposals from Realtors for the sale of the County North Building on U.S. Highway 83, north of Minot. The building had been donated to the county a number of years ago and has been used for storage. Any sale would be contingent on the county highway department’s ability to continue storing items in the building until a new storage facility is constructed at its headquarters east of Minot.