NORTH BEND — A couple interested in taking ownership of a house set for demolition is fighting a ticking clock.

On Monday, Pat and Doug Johnson, who live near Seattle, attended a North Bend City Council work session to discuss their request to move the 2505 Sheridan Ave house.

Last week, the Johnsons informed city officials they’d like to remove the house from its slipping perch above U.S. Highway 101 and relocate the structure to an undisclosed lot in Coos County, where they would then live.

They said it would save the city the demolition cost, save money for property owner Yesi Guirado and keep the house out of landfills. If they get permission, the Johnsons want the house itself, not its foundation, but they would need permits to have it lifted from the site.

“Our hope would be to cooperate with the city and county to help us expedite the process and make the move more smooth,” said Pat Johnson.

City councilors said they’d like the Johnsons to assume full liability for the house’s removal for damage to the property, hillside and surrounding properties.

“I’m not willing to release whoever takes it off there from liability,” said Councilor Larry Garboden.

On Oct. 14, the council ordered city staff to make the house safe via demolition — estimated to be a $20,000 expense — after Guirado failed to finish repairs or level the house on his own.

The house became an issue in early 2007 when the council learned that the land underneath it had been slipping on and off since 2005.

City Administrator Jan Willis told the couple their request, while well intentioned, may not be the right solution. “Your approach is simple to a very complicated piece of property,” Willis said.

The Johnsons said they were only comfortable with taking on liability for the risk of damage during the move, which should last about a week. They added they were concerned about a city request — sent to them via an e-mail from Willis — to provide an engineered plan to move the structure and to leave the property in a stable condition. Pat Johnson said it seems impossible to leave the sliding property in that condition.

The Johnson’s request came late in the game, especially considering the city received demolition bids and is meeting with a geotechnical engineer on Wednesday. The city could award a bid to level the house at its regular meeting tonight.

The city hopes to have the work completed before the rainy season.

“If we don’t get it down quickly, it will be next June,” Mayor Rick Wetherell said.

However, Willis said, the city does not have permission to go onto the property with an environmental specialist to look for asbestos or other hazardous materials, as the Oregon Department of Environment Quality requires.

City Attorney Mike Stebbins said the city could obtain a temporary injunction in about two weeks to get the assessment done, but he hopes Guirado and his attorneys will reply before that is necessary.

The Johnsons are rushing to figure out costs and feasibility for the move, and discuss the issue with a planning department.

Doug Johnson said he and his wife became interested in the house last November. They want to live in an older house, he said, because he is sensitive to certain building materials found in newer homes. They called Guirado and toured the property in December and continued to keep in contact with the owner who did not seem interested in selling the house. That is until Oct. 17.

“After Oct. 14, he was willing to allow that property to be removed by us and gave us a call,” Pat Johnson added. She was discouraged by the city’s reception but plans to move forward.

“I think they are trying to pass the entire buck as opposed to being more cooperative,” she said.