Demolition and moving of some structures at International Paper’s now-closed Natchez mill have started in earnest, as someone passing by the site this week could see.

Among other things, two large steel evaporator units were taken down Monday to be transferred to IP’s Mansfield, La., location.

Economic development officials said last week that negotiations are ongoing between Adams County and International Paper over sale of all or part of the property.

Local officials hope to use parts of the IP land and buildings as the site of an industrial park.

EDA board members and Adams County supervisors met in April to discuss options for buying the mill. In June, supervisors voted to approve a $3 million loan from the Mississippi Development Authority to help pay for the proposed purchase. And the EDA has sent IP officials a proposal of how much local bodies would pay for pieces of the mill property.

However, that’s where it still stood as of last week &045;&045; with the EDA still waiting to hear IP’s response to the offer.

We hope that means only that IP officials are thoroughly considering the plan and will get back to the EDA with an answer &045;&045; one way or the other &045;&045; in the coming days.

Meanwhile, IP site manager Bill Beasley has said there are no plans to demolish structures the EDA is interested in saving.

We hope that continues to hold true. While there’s no guarantee any of the three parties now looking at the site will actually move there, let’s not demolish the properties that could help make that happen.

IP’s been good to the Miss-Lou in the past. We strongly encourage them to continue to work cooperatively with local officials during this transition, to the benefit of all parties concerned.