MONROE — A home condemned within the city over two years ago has officially been given new life in a renovation by its current owner, City Attorney Dan Bartholf said Monday.
Bartholf informed members of the Monroe Common Council during their first February meeting that the home formerly owned by Delores Marti at 1106 19th Street in Monroe officially had its condemnation placard removed Jan. 25.
Marti, 80, previously owned the home in the 1100 block of 19th Street. In August 2016, local authorities responded to complaints by a citizen to the city building inspector that a stench was emanating from the building. The Monroe Fire Department was forced to wear protective clothing and air filters due to the poor sanitation within the home while firefighters investigated the residence.
It was discovered Marti had been keeping 55 cats in varying states of illness within the home and five dead cats were also found within the building. Surviving animals were turned over to the Green County Humane Society. As investigation continued, more than 40 other felines were found dead in a freezer within the building. A majority of the animals were kittens. Another dead cat was discovered in the garage and two more live cats were secured and taken to the humane society.
Marti has been involved in three other animal hoarding incidents in the city: In October 2009, she was keeping 51 cats between two other homes in Monroe. The other incidents were in June 2012 and August 2013.
Marti faced a misdemeanor charge of intentionally mistreating animals, intentionally imprisoning animals without proper ventilation and obstructing an officer. She was sentenced in December 2016 to six years of probation after she pleaded no contest in December 2016 to the charges of mistreating animals. She was also prohibited from owning a cat or possessing or purchasing any items in relation to the animals, including carriers, food, contraptions, litter and other items.
The city declared the home condemned after the cats were found, but Marti filed a restraining petition Aug. 25 to prevent the house from being demolished. The petition referred to the demolition order’s repair estimate as “excessive” and its 30-day deadline “extremely onerous.”
After deeming the repairs too expensive, Marti sold the residence to Joanna Hartung and Christopher Moore, who agreed to fix up the home rather than demolish it. The raze or repair order given to Marti by the city ended with the sale to Hartung on Dec. 6, 2016. The home was purchased for $48,000. When the pair took over renovations of the building, Bartholf said at the time that a lien of just over $10,000 on the home would be forgiven if repairs could be made within roughly 11 months.
But the building was not repaired by the two individuals who bought it from Marti with plans of improvements. Instead, the home was sold to Charles Gilroy of Monroe, who bought the residence within the last year before meeting the requirements to improve the property.
The judgment on the property of more than $10,000 was released Jan. 29.
Bartholf said the city was assured requirements were met because Gilroy hired an environmental specialist, who sent a letter stating that the building was once again safe to occupy.