CASE STUDY: Ohio Commission
Assists
Local Governments to Resolve Disputes
Today, the parties in the NOACA case are working toward final agreement on a joint plan for future development in the region. According to Oberlin City Manager DiSpirito, it was mediation that kept the matter out of court. "Without the mediation process, the issue would definitely have gone legal," he said.
The Initiative enables cities, townships, and counties to apply for funding for conflict resolution services to address public policy disputes. One requirement of the program is that the parties must apply for assistance together . Maggie Lewis, the Commission's Associate Director, said the program requires cities, townships, and counties to be at a point where they are ready to address the key issues in dispute when requesting assistance.
"Often, only one party wants to address the dispute," Lewis said. "Or, the parties want to pursue different avenues for addressing the issues-one through alternative dispute resolution or dialogue and the other through traditional court legal processes. This Initiative is designed for parties who are ready and willing to work together."
The Commission held a workshop on the Initiative for local government officials, and is now accepting applications. Commission staff believe that through the Initiative, more local governmental bodies will have the opportunity to resolve issues without having to rely on the state court system.
For more information on the Initiative, contact Maggie Lewis by email, or by phone at 614-752-9595.