Enforcement of codes in Gypsum causing a dispute

An 80-year-old man who owns several properties in Gypsum faces $36,400 in fines accumulated through years of code violations.

Leonard Sinclair pleaded his case before the Town Council on Tuesday, referencing the amount of work he has put into cleaning up his properties, including a perpetual graffiti problem.

Some code-violation fines multiply as fast as a $1,000 per day after a grace period. Sinclair argued he didn’t have an appropriate grace period to fix some of the violations for which he is fined.

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“This has been a problem for 20 years,” said Mayor Steve Carver in agreement with council member Pam Schultz.

“We’ve tried to deal with Sinclair on and off for a long time, and now this is finally coming to a head,” said Gypsum Town Manager Jeff Shroll after the meeting.

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The effort seems to coincide with a broader one the council initiated last year to clean up the town, making it more attractive to visitors.

“The town is in violation of its own code in places and nothing changes there,” Sinclair said. “I’m not going to pay those fines. I shouldn’t have to.”

Carver told Sinclair that from now on, he will have to communicate strictly through the town’s attorney, Bob Cole.