Natchez is paying $85,000 annually for security at a city-owned facility that was once a tire manufacturing plant.

That is $85,000 a year that could be put to more productive use, like putting more police officers on patrol.

As noted in a recent story about the expenditure, city officials say the facility left unguarded could be pillaged of copper and other fixtures, or homeless people could take up homestead in the building.

A plan to make the facility the headquarters of the Arrow Industries, the city’s waste collection service, met resistance from residential neighbors of the facility, however, and the city is continuing to pay $6,600 to $7,900 per month to guards protect the facility 24-hours, seven days per week.

The city should consider how it might afford to demolish the building and get the property back on the tax rolls.

However, if that is not a viable, short-term option, perhaps a creative solution could help resolve the heavy expense of the necessary security. Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell has said as much, including that he is open to any sort of ideas that would save the city from paying those thousands of dollars a month. Here is an idea to kick things off: How about using some of that money to clear out expensive furniture and fixtures, perhaps renovate the space and turn it in to a business incubator or an artist colony with low rent?

Perhaps the tenants could pool their resources and provide the security during closed hours, or make the rent expensive enough to pay for the necessary security.

Even if such an endeavor were losing money, hopefully it would not be to the tune of $85,000 per year. Such an incubator could help develop up-and-coming businesses that could move on to bigger and better things, and that would certainly be a better investment than $85,000 per year guarding an empty building.

That’s just one idea. With a little thought and effort, we are certain community leaders could come up with a workable solution to resolve the money drain that exists on that property today.

And at the cost of $6,600 to $7,900 per month, that would be a brainstorming session worth the effort.