The dream of saving Ironton’s Memorial Hall building may be far more driven by nostalgia than it is dollars and cents.

The city of Ironton has owned the decaying structure for many years and several efforts to restore the former city hall have fallen by the wayside. Now the city is asking the Lawrence County Commissioners if they would like to take ownership of it, with the county looking at the possibility of renovating it for a new home of the 911 system and other governmental offices.

The commission is very early in this process of evaluating how feasible it would be to renovate but we hope that common sense — and dollars and cents — will trump memories and nostalgia.

Estimates have projected that it will cost as much as $8 million to renovate the building. And that may be conservative.

Something has to be done with the building, but it must make sense for the government agencies involved and for all Lawrence County taxpayers.

If the county can get enough state and federal money to renovate the building that could make the project feasible but, based on current economic situation faced by all governments, that appears fairly unlikely.

Certainly it is worth considering and gathering all the information before making a decision and county shouldn’t be faulted for at least entertaining the idea.

The desire to hold on to our past is important but it cannot overpower the need to realistically plan for our future.