The idea of removing an Otago Regional Council staff presence from Roxburgh has split councillors.
In March the council's lease on a depot site housing one staff member at 189 Scotland St expired.
The owner indicated they did not want to renew the agreement.
The council has said it has "no strategic requirement" to maintain a presence there, so would chose between relocating the employee elsewhere in Roxburgh or its Alexandra office.
At a council committee meeting yesterday Cr Graeme Bell said he wanted to see staff still based in Roxburgh, and wondered whether they could be based in the Central Otago District Council i-Site building.
"Having a link in that area is still very, very important. He's an important identity for the ORC in the Teviot Valley."
Cr Bryan Scott said there was huge benefit in having a staff member based in Roxburgh.
He was not confident in the idea gaps in staff presence could be filled by technology.
He indicated he especially felt that way yesterday after failed attempts to connect a video link at the meeting.
Cr Michael Deaker said he favoured strengthening the ORC's Alexandra presence instead.
The council was moving towards creating a real "Central Otago hub" there, he said.
Council chief executive Sarah Gardner said there were advantages of having centralised work- forces in areas across Otago.
She noted some regional offices had little foot traffic.
"There will be many communities across Otago that would see some benefit of a staff member of ours being based there."
However, there were other means of connecting with communities, she said.
