NATCHEZ — A New Orleans hotel management company has taken over the operations of Monmouth while paperwork for the historic property’s foreclosure and management contract is finalized.

United Mississippi Bank initiated foreclosure proceedings on Monmouth Wednesday. Monmouth was owned by Ron and Lani Riches for approximately 35 years.

UMB President Sammy Porter said the foreclosure must be legally advertised for 28 days before the bank officially takes ownership of the property.

In the meantime, Porter said New Orleans Hotel Consultants is managing the property. The company also currently manages the Natchez Grand Hotel and the Natchez Convention Center through a contract with the city.

Porter said the management company is currently determining the feasibility taking over permanent management of Monmouth. He said if the bank and the company decide to sign an official contract, it will be done once the bank assumes official ownership when the legal advertisement requirement has been completed.

“(New Orleans Hotel Consultants is) operating Monmouth as we speak, but the bank doesn’t technically own the property,” Porter said.

Warren Reuther, president of New Orleans Hotel Consultants, met previously with bank representatives to express the company’s interest in managing the property. He said if his company takes over, it would do its best to keep Monmouth a mainstay of Natchez tourism.

Reuther has said his company has also met with the staff of Monmouth and is hoping to keep all of the current employees at the property.

“We would like to keep all of the jobs,” he said. “They have such a great staff, and our objective is to keep everybody.”