‘This is a victimless crime’: Fight over South Milwaukee skeleton decorations resolved

SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The City of South Milwaukee issued a statement regarding Sean Oster's skeleton display that was prompting fines from the city. They say in their Wednesday, July 8 statement that Oster is now in compliance with their standards. The full statement is below:

The City of South Milwaukee values the character and creativity of its neighborhoods, does not regulate how a resident chooses to decorate a home. The notice issued for 1010 N. Chicago Avenue sought to address many issues regarding the overall condition of the property, and the skeletons displayed on the property were just one of them. Others included inoperable vehicles, stored tires, and gas-powered equipment kept in the yard. The accumulation of junk materials on the exterior property are health, safety, and neighborhood-upkeep concerns, and they apply equally to every property in the City. Our property-maintenance and vehicle-storage standards are enforced the same way regardless of the theme, message, or timing of anything on a property. The City is not seeking to dictate residents' seasonal or holiday expression, and we will continue to enforce our property maintenance code in accordance with the law. Following a reinspection, the City confirmed that the property owner has brought the property into compliance by removing the accumulation of the junk materials and vehicle storage violations observed in May. Absent those violations, the decorations remaining on the property are not a violation, and this matter is now closed.

SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis (CBS 58) -- Sean Oster lives on N. Chicago Avenue in South Milwaukee, and if you drive by his house, you can’t miss it.

Oster and his wife have two 12-foot skeletons in their front yard that have been up year-round since late 2024.

“My wife likes Halloween and I like to be nice to my wife because it works out for me,” Oster said. “She decorates them for each holiday; it’s not just Halloween.”

Earlier this summer, the city of South Milwaukee sent Oster a “Notice of Violation” letter for several violations.

The violations include:

• Large Halloween decorations being displayed not during appropriate time of year and miscellaneous/temporary structures existing for longer than allowed 60 days
• Junk, tires, gas powered equipment being stored in rear yard area of property
• 2 disabled/non-operable vehicles stored on property

The letter states that if the violations are not taken care of by Tuesday July 7, Oster would be fined $500 per day.

“The whole thing comes down to, there was a list of things they wanted done which were all taken care of,” Oster said. “I have no problem with any of that, but this is a victimless crime as they say.”

South Milwaukee mayor Brett Briesemeister tells CBS 58 that this a standard code compliance situation that got complicated because of the skeletons.

Neither Briesemeister or City Attorney Chris Smith could answer whether Oster would be fined if he does not take the skeletons down, and that an inspector would be out for a reinspection.

For now, the skeletons will stay up.

“They fine me, they fine me, I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Oster said. “I think it’s a little bit ridiculous I mean there are far worse things to deal with right now than this.”’