While the search for a buyer for the St. James Hotel continues, the Selma City Council is considering closing all or part of the rooms.

City Councilwoman Susan Keith recommended the council consider closing rooms as a way to save money.

“I would suggest that we mothball the rooms, or maybe keep the riverfront rooms open,” Keith said.

However, Keith said she wanted the hotel to be still available for events like weddings and parties and conferences through the end of the year. She said anyone renting the St. James would have to provide a caterer.

“I would not like to see the St. James totally close … because we have still rented it out,” Keith said. “At some point, if it does still continue to cost us a lot, we are going to have to mothball it.”

The city has cut back on staff in the past two months, which will save approximately $10,000 a month. On average, the hotel has been costing the city about $25,000 more per month than it generates.

Councilman Cecil Williamson said the hotel has been costing about $300,000 a year to operate. Even with the cuts, the St. James would still set the city back $190,000 next year.

Keith said by having fewer rooms available the hotel could operate with a skeleton crew. There was a discussion about major events downtown, notably the Bridge Crossing Jubilee in March.

“Hopefully, it will be sold before the jubilee. That’s one of our biggest events, and those people depend on being able to stay downtown,” Councilwoman Angela Benjamin said.

There was also talk about whether the hotel should continue to book private events.

Williamson said if the St. James books an event it needs to not cost the city any money.

“We need to make as much off the event as it costs to keep it open,” Williamson said.

Mayor George Evans said he is working to compile a list of all scheduled events at the St. James for now until January.

Councilwoman Bennie Ruth Crenshaw said the city should provide people notice as soon as possible if any events are canceled.

The council is expected to take up the issue during Tuesday’s meeting. The council recently listed the St. James with a real estate company out of Atlanta that specializes in the sale of hotels. The city of Selma has been managing the day-to-day operations since Strand Management left in March 2015.