Milwaukee appeals panel waives some admin fees, upholds contractor charges in batch of nuisance and permit appeals

The Milwaukee Administrative Review Board of Appeals met June 26, 2025, and issued rulings on a large docket of nuisance, encroachment and permit appeals. The panel granted partial relief in several cases—typically by waiving administrative fees or reducing contractor charges—but otherwise upheld contractor abatements and permit-related fines in the majority of matters.

The board opened by hearing the appeal of Anthony McKenzie over an alley encroachment abatement at 3881 N. 50th St. City forestry staff said a contractor cleared vegetation on Oct. 17, 2024, and billed $235 for contractor removal plus a $50 administrative fee and tax, totaling $303.57. The board granted the appeal in part: it eliminated the $50 administrative fee and left the contractor charge and tax in place. Chair Vincent Bobbitt told McKenzie, “You will be receiving a written notice of our decision.”

Across several solid-waste appeals, the board repeatedly accepted city contractor invoices for abatements while trimming the administrative penalty. For example: - LaBoy (LaBoy/Jaisani) Figueroa (4629 N. 30th St.) appealed a solid-waste contractor abatement that totaled $719.19. After debate about whether the property owner had requested a sanitation special pickup, the board granted the appeal in part and held the appellant responsible for 50% of the total (rounded to $360). - Steven Wolf (508 W. Vienna) argued that some of the material removed was not his and that communications with city staff were unclear; the board denied his appeal and left the contractor and administrative fees in place. - Several appellants who failed to appear (including Daniel Sheehan, Santana Haskins, Steven Brick and others) had their appeals denied for…