City May Destroy Falling House

A house in West Monroe is still headed dangerously close to falling into the Ouachita River. Now West Monroe city officials are debating whether they need to go in and destroy the house themselves.

The house has been a spectacle for hundreds of people. People and levee officials want to know is it going to fall, or not. Officials say the house is becoming a safety issue, and that's why it's made it to tonight's city council agenda. The 3 story house in question on Trenton Street.

For at least a month now, it's been leaning closer and closer toward the Ouachita River. A West Monroe building inspector says the house should be condemned. In a letter obtained by NBC 10 News, the inspector also said the structure is unsafe and deficient.

Tonight, city council members will discuss whether they need to take the first steps in condemning the house, which could then lead to the city destroying it. But city council members tell NBC 10 News tonight that the owners -- Johnny and Linda Leggett are having trouble with their insurance company, so they hope to give them some time, about 30 days to sort everything out before the city takes over.

City council members say while a lot is still up in the air -- one thing they will be doing is setting a time limit for the Leggetts to do something about the house. They say that will determine whether or not they will be intervening when it comes to the falling house.