NATCHEZ — Though it’s in its very preliminary stages, an idea is formulating to transfer ownership of the Natchez Visitor Reception Center from the city to the National Park Service.

Talks began when an assessment team came and looked at the visitors center.

It’s been open for 10 years and it’s natural to reassess the building and see what can be done in the future or what needs to be done, Superintendent of the Natchez National Historical Park Kathleen Jenkins said.

“They looked at the main building, the parking lot area, the landscape, the fountain, the historic colonnade out front,” Jenkins said.

After looking at those things, the team projected maintenance costs out to the year 2040 “so we would have a reality check,” Jenkins said.

Director of Tourism Connie Taunton said to the board of aldermen Tuesday that those kinds of costs would be a hardship to the city.

“With (the park service’s) budget, they’d be able to make the necessary changes and improvements to the visitors center,” she said.

Jenkins said these considerations are all in the best interest of the building.

“That kind of kick started everything because nobody wants a sub par building,” she said.

Taunton said the park service’s help would be providential for the center.

“The assistance that we would get from the park service would be a benefit to Natchez,” she said.

It also comes at a good time for the park service, which is looking to increase its presence in the visitors center.

“What we seen in the last few years is the completion of the Natchez Trace Parkway into Natchez, we’ve been designing new exhibits to go in this building to give more visibility to the National Park Service,” she said.

She said not only is the visitors center is not just a welcome center for the City of Natchez but also for the park service.

Jenkins and Taunton only recently presented this to the board of aldermen, asking the city for the donation of the building.

“The city has a lot of decisions to make,” Jenkins said.

Both Jenkins and Taunton said they thought the board responded well to the idea.

There are many steps to go through before this could take effect.

Jenkins said it would have to be approved through the park service’s office in Washington, D.C., and that could prove to be a roadblock.

Jenkins said right now its merely a discussion to see if the National Park Service and the city might want to do attempt the transfer.

If it were to occur, Jenkins said the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau could still operate from the building.

“The CVB could maintain offices here,” she said. “There’s nothing saying we can’t lease space to other agencies.”