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Board of Appeals denies Tisha Colemans appeal of reinspection fee for West Village Street property
Summary
The Milwaukee Board of Appeals denied an appeal from Tisha Coleman challenging a reinspection fee for 3229 West Village Street. City witnesses said two months of reinspection fees were already waived and staff offered a work plan process to reduce future 2025 fees if repairs are scheduled.
The Milwaukee Board of Appeals on Feb. 13 denied an appeal by Tisha Coleman of a reinspection fee tied to 3229 West Village Street in the Fourth Aldermanic District.
Coleman told the board she updated her mailing address only after learning of extra charges on her tax bill and asked that fees for 2024 be reduced to roughly the prior monthly level rather than the larger recent charges. Peter Larison of the Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) told the board the city sent orders to the address of record, conducted periodic reinspection visits, and documented outstanding exterior items including damaged storm windows, a missing downspout and missing glazing. Larison said some repairs appear to have been done but items remain.
Larison told the board that DNS had waived two months of reinspection fees because of the appeal and scheduling, and that the department can work with owners to create a written work plan for the 2025 tax year (Sept. 1, 2024Sept. 1, 2025). If the owner signs a simple written plan committing to completion dates, DNS said it could waive or greatly reduce accrued 2025 reinspection fees. Larison also noted that fees appearing on the 2024 tax bill other than the single August fee before the board were no longer appealable to the board because the appeal window had passed.
During discussion, Commissioner Kendrick Yandell moved to deny the appeal, saying the city had met its burden. The motion was seconded and carried with no objection.
The board recorded the August 2024 fee of $355.60 (transcribed as $3.66 then corrected to $355.60) as the fee before the board and denied Colemans appeal of that fee. Board members encouraged Coleman to contact DNS staff to pursue a work plan to address outstanding repairs and reduce future fees; DNS staff provided contact numbers (DNS inspector phone (414) 286-3154; Special Enforcement Desk (414) 286-3522) and said staff would assist with a work plan and follow-up.
The board directed staff to send Coleman written instructions on appealing the boards decision to circuit court and to provide contact information for follow-up.
