Wausau committee orders 75% rent abatement for tenant at 816 Brown Street

The Wausau Public Health and Safety Committee on May 18, 2026, ordered a 75% abatement of monthly rent for a tenant at 816 Brown Street after finding the property had uncorrected rent-impairing violations, including lack of heat on the second floor.

The committee’s written findings, read into the record by Chair Lou Larson, say inspections found the violations, a code-violation notice dated April 10, 2026 (compliance due April 20) and a follow-up emailed April 23, 2026 (compliance due May 8) were not complied with. The committee concluded the tenant met the burden of proof and awarded abatement under Wausau Municipal Code 16.04.0.037.

The award reduces the tenant’s obligation by 75% of the monthly rent; on record figures the lease calls for $900 per month, so the abatement equals $675 per month. The committee ordered the abatement retroactive to Jan. 8, 2026, the date of the initial inspection, and directed that it continue until the Wausau zoning inspections department verifies correction of the housing-code violation. "This committee hereby awards 75% of the monthly rent, or $675 per month, as abatement pursuant to Wausau Municipal Code 16.04.0.037," Chair Lou Larson read into the record.

The written finding identifies the property owners as Sarah L. Anderson and Jerome H. Wolpley and names the manager as Wausau Area Property Management, which appeared by Kimberly Willingham; Adam Malzahn appeared for the inspection and zoning division. The record also shows a tenant filing fee of $25 was submitted to the city clerk on April 21, 2026, and that a hearing notice was issued by the clerk on May 8, 2026. The committee noted it had deliberated in closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(a) on matters related to the notices and allegations.

Committee members clarified one procedural reading error after the determination: Alder Treblin said the earlier reference to a closed-session date had been read as the eighth but should have been the eighteenth; the chair acknowledged the correction. The committee directed counsel to provide copies of the findings and determination to the manager and the city. A procedural motion to adjourn, made by Alder Lukin and seconded by Alder Watson, passed on a voice vote; the chair closed the meeting.

Note on name in record: the transcript identifies the tenant as "Alicia Dunan" in one paragraph and later records the name as "Elisha Dunan." The committee’s order references the tenant filing and the abatement remedy; the record contains that name discrepancy, which is noted here rather than assumed to be an editorial correction.

The abatement applies only while the violation remains uncorrected; the committee specified inspections staff must verify that heating and other code issues are fixed before abatement ends.