In 2001, Marathon County Wisconsin embarked on an ambitious plan to develop a county wide comprehensive plan, as well as comprehensive plans for municpalities within the County. At that time, the County had been out of the planning business for a decade. There were fractious, if not rancorous relationships among the municipalities. Competition for economic development opportunities was cutthroat. There was a distinct urban rural split. Through the cooperative planning process, many bridges were built and fences were mended. While certainly not entirely a function of working on a comprehensive plan, the relationships among communities and the county improved greatly, leading to such things as an urban stormwater coalition,
The Comprehensive Plan was finally adopted by the County Board in 2006. 53 of the 62 municipalities adopted local plans. More importantly, the leadership of  the communities recognized that we are all interconnected. While it will never be easy, when community leaders stop competing and begin cooperating, there is a much better potential for success for all.