They're celebrating the spirit of the Fall season and the history of their city, but now a couple from West Allis is being told they're violating city code. Theresa Crivello and her husband, Jim House, live on Orchard St. in West Allis.  Every year before Halloween, they put up an elaborate fall display outside their home.  It includes hay bales, large pumpkins, and a shiny red Allis Chalmers tractor. 

"It was built here and we live here," said Crivello.  "We're proud of where we live."

The Allis Chalmers company was formed around the turn of last century and built its first tractor in West Allis in 1914.  The one owned by Crivello and House has been passed down for generations.  It's candy apple red and sits on their lawn through the holidays.  It's very popular according to Crivello. 

"We've had people come from around the country to take pictures with it.  That amazed us."

The couple has been doing this without problem for years, up until last week.  They received a letter from the city stating the tractor must be removed.  It's non-code compliant.  Crivello was floored. 

"It's an Allis Chalmers tractor that we're displaying in West Allis," Crivello told the inspector.  "He looked at me and said, 'It's non-code compliant.  It doesn't belong here.'"

The inspector said the ordinance is clear.  He wouldn't speak with Newsradio 620 WTMJ; but Mayor Jeanette Bell did.

"Our ordinance is very clear about not parking vehicles on front lawns," she said.  "Our inspector doesn't have the option of not enforcing that ordinance.  In other words, he doesn't have the option of looking the other way if the ordinance is being violated."

Bell said this isn't the first time the city has ordered a resident to remove a vehicle from their lawn, and everyone must be treated the same.  During the Wisconsin State Fair, an exemption allows residents to park vehicles on lawns.  In this case, the mayor suggested Crivello write a letter to the Head of the Department of Building Inspections and Zoning, because he has the power to exercise discretion.

Theresa has already begun penning the letter.