The proposed state legislation designed to save landlords money by allowing them the right to handle the removal of evicted tenants' property has stalled in Assembly committee and awaits a compromise that would create an exemption for Milwaukee County. As yet there is no exception for Milwaukee in the new bill, despite opposition from Sheriff Lev Baldwin, movers and Milwaukee Apartment Association representatives, who testified against the previous bill. It is part of a larger package from Grothman that failed last year and in 1996. Sheriff's departments now have removal responsibilities in forced evictions, and use licensed movers and bonded warehouses to store tenants' property. Tenants have 30 days to reclaim their property.
Landlords now pay the removal fee, which can be recouped from the tenant.
Robson's legislation stalled in the Assembly housing committee in early February when Brittain, his brother, a sheriff's deputy and Tim Ballering, head of the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, testified against it. Now, along comes Grothman's proposal. It mirrors Robson's legislation, with landlord-friendly provisions from Grothman's failed housing legislation tacked on to quell opposition from Ballering and Milwaukee landlords. Brittain said opposition from Milwaukee will continue. Brittain is also a landlord.