Intergovernmental Agreement
Town of Emmet/City of Watertown, Wisconsin

The city of Water-town and town of Emmet, adjacent communities, found themselves at odds over territorial issues. Foth was the primary negotiator on behalf of the town for a Wis. Stats. 66.30 Intergovernmental Agreement to establish both city and town growth areas and annexation policies.

The city of Watertown imposed a 3-mile review authority for all plats beyond their incorporated boundary which included a majority of the land over in the town of Emmet.

Challenges:

• Intergovernmental agreement had to be a win-win for both parties.
• Reduced the town area subject to extraterritorial plat review authority by the city.

Benefits:

As a result of Foth’s efforts and the two-year negotiations with the communities, the city of Watertown agreed to significantly reduce the town area subject to extraterritorial plat review authority. The town agreed to address a blighted area near the city limits and a coordinated land use pattern and service needs adjacent to their mutual border. Annexation policies, beneficial to both parties, were also negotiated.