NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors is advertising its intent to let the former Belwood country club go to seed — literally.

The board is advertising for bids for a lessee to level the property, control vegetation and maintain the property in crops or cut it four times a year.

“We had somebody approach us about farming on the Belwood property, which we thought was a good idea because then we wouldn’t have to maintain it with mowing until we sell it,” Adams County Board of Supervisors Vice President Mike Lazarus said. “We’ve advertising for bids because we can’t just give it to him.”

While the advertisement implies the board is seeking an agricultural user, Board President Darryl Grennell said the lease holder would not have to be a farmer.

“The mission is to keep us from cutting the grass and the other vegetation out there, and we feel like it can be used by somebody locally for local benefit, either growing hay for their cattle or growing crops to sell,” he said. “Our mission is to make it look presentable and maintained until we get an (industrial) prospect.”

The county has owned the former country club for 19 years, and while it has been considered for potential industries — notably the failed Rentech and KiOR projects — nothing has materialized on the property.

Rentech went on to buy the former International Paper property after considering Belwood — eventually selling the IP property to the county with its coal-to-liquid plant plans for Adams County were scrapped — while KiOR held an option on the Belwood property from 2012 to 2014.

KiOR allowed its option to lapse as the company began preparations to seek bankruptcy protection in August.

Even though the property has not yet had an industrial success, Grennell said that is still the focus of the board and it would be included in any potential lease.

“The only stipulation that has to be understood is that an industrial prospect would have priority if they come in,” he said.

Sealed bids for the property are due at the supervisors’ office on State Street by 10 a.m. Monday.