The Office of Dispute Resolution originated within the MN State Planning Agency in 1985. It was the fourth office of its type to be created nationally to assist public agencies resolve a broad range of disputes without litigation.
Services are available to all public agencies in Minnesota - local through federal.
Mediation is growing in popularity among agencies because it is expedient, cost efficient, less adversarial than litigation and addresses the real issues in dispute not just the legal points. The process gives parties control over the procedures to be used during mediation as well as the outcome. Facilitation of public or group meetings of an informational, fact-finding, regulatory or policy development nature. Dispute resolution skill-building seminars for public employees and elected officials. Seminar participants learn how to negotiate more effectively on the job and build consensus among group members.