Dispute Resolution Process

The Intergovernmental Cooperation Element, as described in the Comprehensive Planning Law, requires the identification of existing or potential conflicts between local governmental units and to describe a process to resolve such conflicts.

In 2004, the Washington County Board of Supervisors, in recognizing the importance of intergovernmental cooperation and to continue the cooperation between the county and local municipalities, established a dispute resolution process as a forum to address and resolve conflicts. Interested municipalities would enter into an appropriate intergovernmental agreement to voluntarily participate in this dispute resolution process in an effort to reduce or avoid expenditures of valuable taxpayer dollars.

In the 2004 Resolution 35, the County Board resolved to establish a fair and just quasi-judicial multi-jurisdictional dispute resolution forum to resolve multi-jurisdictional conflicts regarding amendments to adopted comprehensive plans and issues resulting from such adoption. The County Board resolution describes the dispute resolution body consisting of a total of six individuals that would be selected by the disputing parties and would be drawn from a pool of representatives depending on the conflict presented to the body.

The Multi-jurisdictional Advisory Committee was charged with the responsibility of developing the procedures and by-laws to guide the body in its consideration of the issues presented and the decision-making process in which it engages. A Dispute Resolution Forum Subcommittee was established to develop the procedures and by-laws.

The Washington County Board of Supervisors adopted 2007 Resolution 87 authorizing participation in the Washington County Multi-Jurisdictional Dispute Resolution Panel. "Rules and Bylaws Governing the Washington County Multi-Jurisdictional Dispute Resolution Panel" was adopted by the Washington County Board of Supervisors on April 15, 2008 as Appendix P of the comprehensive plan.

In 2019, the County Board approved the updated The Multi-jurisdictional Comprehensive Plan for Washington County: 2050 which also included the Washington County Multi-Jurisdictional Dispute Resolution Panel. 

Washington County 2050 Comprehensive Plan Appendix F - Rules and Bylaws Governing the Washington County Multi-Jurisdictional Dispute Resolution Panel

Dispute Resolution Forum Subcommittee Members (2008)
Matt Heiser, Village of Kewaskum
Jim Bennett, Town of Hartford
Chris Kuehn, Town of Wayne
Brian Bausch, County Board Supervisor
Ron Hefter, Town of Addison
Barb Renkas, City of West Bend
Dan Knodl, County Board Supervisor
Leander Herriges, Town of Wayne
David Nixon, University of Wisconsin - Washington County
Justin Drew, City of Hartford