Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/175080
Sarasota News Leader September 20, 2013 Page 16 Daniels did admit in his answer that both Siegel and Siesta Resorts have an interest in the Sabal Drive house. The county complaint says that on Dec. 31, 2012, "Siegel as Trustee executed and recorded a 'Grant of Possessory Right and Beneficial Interest'" in official Sarasota County records. However, Pearce also stated in the complaint that no copy of the Land Trust Agreement purporting to convey that right to Siegel could be located in county records. A Sept. 17 search of the Sarasota County Property Appraiser's records still showed Siegel listed as an owner with a "life estate." John Lally addresses members of the Siesta Although the News Leader also learned in Key Village Association in August. Photo by July that Siegel had applied for a homestead Rachel Hackney exemption for the Sabal Drive property, the record shows "no exemptions associated with said they were "completely shocked" to find the News Leader's July 19 article about the this parcel." county legal complaint, because "we just subThe 2013 just market value of the building and mitted a down payment for [the rental]." land is $646,300. After the News Leader suggested the writer NO MORE LISTING get in touch with Sarasota County Code Enforcement staff or the County Attorney's OfCounty documents showed Siegel was rentfice for an update on the civil case, the writer ing the house to tourists through the website responded that he and his family members Vacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO). A News "will also be contacting our bank to try to reLeader check of that site on Sept. 17 found solve the situation." 6537 Sabal Drive no longer was listed among Siesta properties. A search incorporating the The writer added, "We are extremely conhouse's code number resulted in the response, cerned as no calls or emails have been re"Oops, you stumped the VRBO search engine!" turned to us regarding this property …" Nonetheless, the News Leader received an email from a person on Sept. 6 identifying himself and family members as "snowbirds from up north, Southern Ontario and from Western New York," who recently reserved the house for dates in March 2014 — the first trip they had planned to Siesta Key. The writer In July, the VRBO website listing said the house could accommodate up to 40 people, with a total of 10 bedrooms and five bathrooms. The site said rent was $4,500 a week from January through April but it dropped to $3,900 a week from September through December. %