The tent was taken down, the residence and adjacent homes were treated with pesticides, utilities were shut off, and the city was readying to begin demolition of the tent house Monday.

Then, "at the eleventh hour" a legal issue forced the city to delay any further action, according to Planning and Community Director Pete Stasiak.

The city of Safford placed a tent over the residence at Colonial Village #4 in 2006 after authorities found it befouled with cat feces, maggots and other filth when they arrived to check on its resident, LaVonne Seale. Neighboring residents said they have complained about Seale's property for about seven years. In his Dec. 17, 2007, ruling, Judge Landau stated the home "presents a condition that is injurious to health, indecent, offensive to the senses and interferes with the comfort and enjoyment of life and property by an entire community neighborhood and considerable number of persons."

While Stasiak said he could not elaborate on the legal issue, he said it does not involve any motions to stay or appeal Judge Jerry Landau's previous order authorizing the city to demolish the residence.

In preparation for the razing, the city had the home fumigated and treated adjacent yards with pesticides. It will wet the house and grounds to prevent dust and airborne particle debris and has also offered to place the adjacent neighbors in hotel rooms during the demolition.

"We were all prepared to go," Stasiak said.

He said the demolition is most likely delayed for about two weeks.

The tent will remain off, however, until the city can have it placed back over the house Monday.