A South Milwaukee couple has won a dispute with city officials over their 12-foot-tall skeleton decorations, known as Hector and Henrietta, after a code violation complaint was closed. Sean and Laura Oster had been ordered in May to remove the towering figures from their front yard by July 7 or face daily fines of $500.
The city's notice cited multiple code violations, including the display of what they deemed "gigantic decorations" at the "not appropriate time of the year." The complaint also mentioned inoperable vehicles, tires, and gas-powered equipment in the yard, which Sean Oster acknowledged but contested were misrepresented as "junk."
The Osters, who moved to South Milwaukee in July 2023, explained that Laura Oster's love for Halloween inspired the initial skeleton display. The second skeleton was added about a year later, after Sean Oster repaired it following storm damage. The couple stated that the public had nicknamed the skeletons Hector and Henrietta and that they often dressed them in seasonal outfits, including red, white and blue attire for the Fourth of July. Oster had even created a Facebook page to showcase the skeletons' various costumes.
Sean Oster expressed surprise at the city's action, stating that they had received only positive feedback from neighbors until the official notice arrived. The situation drew the attention of the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit law firm that advocates for constitutional rights. The firm sent a letter to the city, arguing that the decorations constituted protected speech under the First Amendment and were "harmless fun."
Jimmy Odell, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, contended that the couple would not have faced similar scrutiny for a display like a bald eagle for the Fourth of July, suggesting the action was based on the content of their display and thus a First Amendment violation. Oster credited the support of the Institute for Justice and the public for helping them "overcome and continue the tradition."
In response, the city of South Milwaukee issued a statement on Wednesday affirming its appreciation for neighborhood creativity. The statement clarified that the notice for the Osters' property addressed "many issues," with the skeletons being only one component. The primary concerns, according to the city, were the "accumulation of junk materials and vehicle storage violations" which posed health, safety, and neighborhood upkeep issues. The statement confirmed that these material and vehicle storage violations have since been resolved, leading to the closure of the complaint regarding the Osters' property.