Citizen Harassment over Fence Code Inspections

After years of harassment from the "powers that be" in Lamar City Hall, this neighbor erected a standard 6 foot fence with 2X4 frame and galvanized metal siding to protect and give privacy for a collection of antique vehicle parts. Retired with an eye for refurbishing antique vehicles, this 72 year old woman was forced back into the workforce full-time by city code requirements to rebuild her fence. Irritation aside, she returned to work and set about the chore of rebuilding her fence using recycled materials she had on hand, along with the few materials she was forced to purchase.

Her efforts were applauded by a local official who appreciated the fact that she put forth the effort to not only erect a fence strong enough to stand the winds that blow, but graceful enough to portray the BEST fence in the neighborhood. Other city officials continue to harass and pester this citizen, including the dog catcher who recently presented her with two new door hangers, condemning her property and threatening her with stiff fines and a possible jail sentence. Imagine her chagrin at receiving such a "Notice and Order" when the neighbor's fences are less than suitable, and do not meet the City Code for fences, nor are they attractive. The butting fence post and broken gate post of one neighbor sets against her newly installed ecologically correct recycled fence.

Perhaps the dog catcher needs to take a few extra moments on his route to review other neighbor's fences, instead of instantly jumping to the conclusion of writing this woman a ticket. And perhaps the Police Chief of Lamar Colorado, whom the Dog Catcher said, "told him to deliver these tickets to you at work." should spend more of his time in the neighborhood reviewing OTHER neighbors back of the fence weed patches, and less of his time intruding and trespassing on this woman's private property.

As a community, Lamar, Colorado celebrates Antique and Refurbished Autos in an annual Auto Show at Willow Creek Park each year. Yet this same community continues to harass and attempt to intimidate this law abiding citizen who collects and works on refurbishing antique vehicles in her spare time.

One particular vehicle, a 1959 Ford Truck, driven regularly until 1977, by this woman and her husband was relocated to a nearby farm, at the demand of the City of Lamar in 2002. The vehicle, maintained in pristine condition with all windows and decals intact, needed only a paint job and some minor engine overhauls until after the relocation. Now, decals are missing, stolen while the vehicle was stored at a farm site less than two hundred yards from the home of the City Code & Building Inspector, windows are broken out, and the vehicle will require a major overhaul to be presented again in parades and other Antique Car Shows.

Notice the missing 1959 Ford Emblem in the front grill. This emblem had been in perfect condition before the vehicle was stored. A paint booth constructed on the property was available for sanding and prepping the vehicle for a new paint job and for re-chroming such pieces as the rusted bumper seen in this photo.

All windows and glass in this vehicle were broken while the vehicle was in paid storage. The woman who owns the vehicle was told there was nothing she could do about the damage to the vehicle. She contacted the Sheriff for an investigation and was told that her vehicles were junk and they couldn't pursue the investigation, although they did locate flat head engines at a local junk yard which resembled the engines this woman was missing. No arrests or further investigation have been pursued. No questions were asked of the junk yard, although it was rather obvious the engines had recently arrived there, due to green grass smashed beneath the engines.

Numerous times, this neighbor's fences have been hit by drunken drivers, destroyed by trespassers, and damaged by unknown sources. Each time, complaints are filed by the citizen, and no investigations are done. Complaints are put away in the file, and her property is left damaged. Yet, the city administration continues to harass her about weeds, although the neighbors weeds surrounding her are left unkempt, unmowed and uncared for, long after hers are mowed down and cleaned up. Fines have been assessed to and paid by this 72 year old woman who continues to work a full time job and attempt to work on her vehicles and enjoy her life in the same neighborhood where she's grown up since her family moved into Lamar, Colorado in 1944.

It's a sad state of affairs, when a community sets out to harass one neighbor, a 72 year old woman, beyond equitable measure while other neighbors go years and years without being bothered by the City of Lamar, although their activities often include loud boisterous parties, drinking, drugging, and drug trafficking that the Lamar City Police Department can't seem to prove, or do anything about. Is it that the police department is afraid to pursue true criminals? Is it possible that it's just easier for them to harass an old woman than it would be for them to spend their time and the tax payers money actually pursuing criminal activity? Have we, as a nation, as a community, fallen so deeply into despair that we gain some sort of evil pleasure from harassing old ladies instead of pursuing real, dangerous criminal activity?