Lawn ornaments sparked an ugly battle at a deed compliance hearing in The Villages.
Kathleen and Edward Lepsik were called to a packed deed compliance hearing on Monday afternoon at the Brownwood District Office regarding lawn ornaments at their home on Turner Terrace in the Village of Hawkins.
According to testimony presented by Community Standards, a complaint about the lawn ornaments was received on May 11. The property was brought into compliance on June 8, only for staff to receive another complaint on June 24. The recurring violation included bird and turtle figures, a welcome flag, a decorative lantern and a wind chime. A follow-up inspection on July 16 found the property to be in compliance.
Kathleen spoke for the couple at the hearing, claiming they were informed lawn ornaments were allowed under the eaves or in the backyard of their courtyard villa. She was not sure who told them this, but Community Standards confirmed at the hearing that it was not permitted.
She also believed deed compliance in Hawkins, which does not allow anonymous complaints, was unfair. She advised that she could drive anywhere in the neighborhood and find “hundreds and hundreds of violations,” but the compliance officers photographed only her property.
“I think this rule here, excuse my language, sucks,” said Kathleen.
However, her neighbors attested that it was the Lepsiks who used Community Standards to target residents, not the other way around.
Linda Tribbia, who has lived next door for a year and a half, stated the Lepsiks had called Community Standards to her property four times and the police over 60 times. While Tribbia complied with the rules, Kathleen continued to put up lawn ornaments and lights. Tribbia no longer felt safe or welcomed in the community advertised as “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.”
“They use Community Standards as a tool to give us stress, as a weapon,” she said.
A neighbor from across the street, Robert Danielson, stated he had been dealing with the same behavior for four years. He brought pictures taken of the Lepsik’s yard that day, allegedly showing the property was not in compliance once again. He believed Community Standards was “scared” of Kathleen, but for her to say the property was in compliance was a “flat out lie.”
Tensions at the hearing rose as other Village of Hawkins residents began shouting at Kathleen to “go back to jail” or “squirt” her neighbors. She had been arrested on July 13 for allegedly hosing down her neighbors as they gathered evidence of deed compliance violations, to which she pleaded not guilty on July 16.
Special Master Terry Neal, a retired Lake County judge, quieted the room before acknowledging their frustrations.
“I know this is a giant problem in your community and in your neighborhood, and I’m very sorry,” she said. “It reflects badly on The Villages in general and your satisfaction.”
At the time of the hearing, the Lepsiks’ property was found to be in compliance and will not face any fines. But due to the photos submitted into evidence, Community Standards will check the yard. If the homeowners violate the same rule within 12 months of the hearing’s date, it will be considered a repeat violation with the potential for a $500 fine.