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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, August 22, 2016 <br />Page 37 <br />Ms. Erickson encouraged the City Council to do something to help that area final- <br />ly get cleaned up completely. Ms. Erickson stated it was embarrassing for those <br />living in that vicinity, including when friends or family came down Cleveland <br />Avenue to visit and observe how bad that corner looked. <br />Tony Dorso, Property Owner <br />Mr. Dorso expressed appreciation for the previous speaker's comments, and re- <br />viewed his recollection of the property and area history. Mr. Dorso further re- <br />viewed his original sale of the property as part of the Twin Lakes Master Devel- <br />oper process; and subsequent eviction of his tenant at that time who was paid to <br />move out, with the developer buying out the lease and paying moving expenses <br />for the tenant. However, Mr. Dorso further recognized the resulting litigation be- <br />tween that developer and a previous City Council apparently not following the <br />procedures for development in Twin Lakes, and ultimate court action overturning <br />that development process. <br />Mr. Dorso noted that resulted in his owning a building that anyone in their right <br />mind knows is going to be redeveloped in time; and while he had sold the build- <br />ing multiple times, each sale attempt ended with the city in some way failing to <br />help him finalize the sale. <br />Mr. Dorso stated he had spent the entire summer working on the building and at- <br />tempting to bring it into compliance; but opined he could not do so until he knew <br />what was needed and for everyone to work together to get it done, how and why. <br />Mr. Dorso stated he was open to discuss any issues. <br />Referencing Mr. Martin's comments, Mr. Dorso questioned why staff had tainted <br />and overstated issues and problems, while he had identified contractors and was <br />attempting to work efficiently and cost-effectively to bring a building into com- <br />pliance that will ultimately be torn down. Mr. Dorso stated he had met with the <br />city last year and told them he would pay to have the building torn down. How- <br />ever, Mr. Dorso advised he had also told the city he didn't want to lose his current <br />tenant whose lease helped pay the $150,000 annual property taxes for the proper- <br />ty. When offering to sell the property to the city, Mr. Dorso stated the city had <br />told him they had no money to buy it; and at that point he offered it to the city on <br />a Contract for Deed for $1 down and the city allowed to pay him when they sold <br />it. <br />Mr. Dorso opined that he felt he had time and effort into this, and hired new con- <br />tractors unfamiliar with the layout of the building, since some of the contractors <br />he'd used in the past were no longer in business. As a resident of Wisconsin, Mr. <br />Doro advised that he was required to drive over here 2-3 times a week to address <br />these problems. Mr. Dorso further stated he didn't appreciate this meeting where <br />absolutely not one word was said by staff to this City Council of the efforts, mon- <br />ey and progress made by him to-date, painting an unfair picture. Mr. Dorso noted <br />