Town of Farmington, WI – It’s expected to be standing room only at the Thursday, November 6, 2025, Town of Farmington Plan Commission meeting. The agenda indicates the commission will Review Zoning Code Amendments for advisory recommendations to the Town Board. The item specifically deals with zoos and is tied to the issues surrounding Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary. The full agenda is below.
Town chairman Doug Neumann said the zoning code changes will “basically clarify our current code and suggest changes revolving around the lawsuit with the zoo.”
The Town of Farmington and Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary have both been hit with lawsuits filed by neighbors Andrew Willetts, Leann Beehler, Ronald J. (“R.J.”) Kahn, and an organization called We Love Farmington. (Correction noted below)
- Original, incorrect statement: included the names Andrew Willetts, Leann Beehler, Ronald J. (“R.J.”) Kahn, and an organization called We Love Farmington.
- 11/13/2025 Corrected statement: “The Town of Farmington, Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary, and We Love Farmington, are involved in legal action. Initial names included were incorrectly identified in our previous report. They are listed correctly below. WashingtonCountyInsider.com regrets the error and strives for balance and accuracy in its reports. If you find an error please contact Judy Steffes, judy@washingtoncountyinsider.com
On May 23, 2025, Plaintiffs, Andrew Willetts and We Love Farmington, U.A., filed an amended complaint naming Shalom as a defendant in a lawsuit claiming that a conditional use permit issued by the Town of Farmington was invalid.
That complaint seeks judicial relief that would void the conditional use permit issued by the Town of Farmington to Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary, which would in turn prohibit Shalom from continuing in its capacity as a revered wildlife center for individuals and families in and around Washington County.
Neumann said action Thursday will change the zoning code clarifying zoo activities definition language in the town code and changes to suggest a zoo as allowable use in agricultural zoning. Land size requirements will also be reviewed.
A request has been made to zoning administrator Walter Rassel for the exact language in the agenda packet.
UPDATE – zoning language below.
Neuman said everything to be presented Thursday has been vetted through the town’s legal counsel.
The Plan Commission meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Farmington Town Hall, 9422 STH 144, Kewaskum, Wi 53040. The meeting is open to the public.
Below are previous articles regarding the legal action against the Town of Farmington and Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary.
September 30, 2025 – Town of Farmington, Wi – UPDATE – The chairman with the Town of Farmington has issued a statement regarding litigation involving a challenge to action taken in January 2025.
According to Town Chair Doug Neumann, a group is challenging an amendment to a conditional use permit that was approved by the Town Board in January 2025.
Below is a statement issued by Neumann.
Judy, my statement regarding the zoo.
“Sorry, I cannot comment on specifics regarding active litigation. However, the zoo has been in operation for over 30 years without incident or town zoning violation concerns.
“Under town ordinance requirements, the zoo currently operates under a conditional use permit issued by the town and is also heavily regulated by several county, state, and federal departments. The January 2025 amended conditional use permit that includes an expansion of the zoo property also includes event activities is being challenged by a small group of individuals.
“The town board has a very specific role when considering conditional use permits. As long as town zoning ordinances and/ or requirements are met, the permitting must considered. When considering these permits, it must be reviewed based on factual information and not opinions or speculation. We have an important responsibility to consider the best interest for the town residents and taxpayers, while also complying with state statute requirements regarding conditional use permits.
“Historically, the zoo has been in operation for several decades without incidents or concerns from the town. It continues to be enjoyed by visitors around the country. They have always complied with all our request and should be considered a tourism asset to our town and county as a whole. I firmly believe all parties involved are hoping this situation is resolved in the near future.”
Below are details from a previous article.
The permit involved expansion of property tied to Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary.
A legal challenge has also been filed against David Fechter, the owner of Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary.
Click HERE for details on a suit by We Love Farmington vs. the Town of Farmington.
Click HERE for a second suit brought by the group We Love Farmington vs. Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary.
David Fechter was contacted this morning. He declined comment but said his statement could be posted below.
Dear Supporters of Shalom Wildlife Zoo,
Today we have to take a break from writing about animals and wildlife activity at the Zoo to update you on something less pleasant and very serious.
About a month ago we posted that Shalom Zoo is under attack by a group of Shalom haters who are doing everything in their power to shut us down. By now some of you may even be aware that Shalom has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by two of our neighbors. The persons suing us is, Andrew Willetts and Leann Beehler, who have created an organization called “We Love Farmington.” Andrew Willetts is married to Jeneva Willetts, who is a renowned author who goes by the name Jeneva Rose. Leann Beehler is married to Bruce Beehler, who was formerly the veterinarian at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
Their lawsuit seeks a court order invalidating our conditional use permit (CUP) which was granted to us back in 1995 by the Town of Farmington, Washington County. In 2024 the Farmington Town Board again updated and approved our CUP. Then in late 2024 Shalom increased our footprint again with the purchase of addition property. After 4 public meetings, in January 2025 the Town Board again approved Shalom Zoos CUP.
The January 2025 updated CUP allows us to expand Shalom Zoos operations to hold special events, such as weddings and corporate gatherings. We have been doing these events for the last 30 years, but now it will be in a much-upgraded facility on the new property. The area will also provide a space where school children can get out of the elements to enjoy their picnic lunches when visiting.
We very much would like to share this beautiful and wonderful new addition with you our loyal supporters and visitors. Their lawsuit threatens our ability to do that. Even more concerning, this lawsuit seeks to essentially end Shalom Wildlife Zoo as we know it.
The plaintiffs want the court to order that the Zoo has been violating various laws and ordinances for decades. We find these allegations ridiculous given that we have never been cited by the Town of Farmington, the County, or the State for any ordinance violations.
To our surprise, after reviewing the documentation we have received in discovery in this case and through Open Records requests, it is clear that there is a concerted effort to shut down the Shalom Zoo and our operations.
Since the Beehlers moved into our area around 2021, Shalom has been subjected to numerous complaints made with state and local government and agencies, including the Town of Farmington, the DNR, and even the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
Leann Beehler has been aided in her efforts by RJ Khan, the president of the Forest at Farmington a homeowner’s association which is located behind the Zoo, and also Andrew Willetts, who moved in across the lake from us last year.
Shalom Zoo was in operation a decade before there was a Forest at Farmington homeowners association and many decades before there were people named Bruce & Leann Beehler and Andrew & Jeneva Rose Willetts living in the Town of Farmington.
Today, we filed a counterclaim and complaint against “We Love Farmington,” Leann Beehler, Andrew Willetts, and RJ Khan.
In it, you will see all the baseless complaints made against us the past few years. It is a clear attempt to harass our Zoo operations to shut Shalom down and force us to spend money to defend ourselves.
This is where we need your help. Because the We love Farmington members and RJ Khan are attacking us on many fronts, we have had to hire several attorneys who specialize in each area.
Attorneys are expensive, and the legal fees are piling up. This is part of their strategy. They want to harm our business by causing us to take revenues that normally we could put back into the Zoo and instead is forcing us to spend it on legal fees. If you would like to help with a donation to Shalom Zoo Legal Defense Fund, please CLICK HERE.
Please note, donations to help save Shalom are given from the heart and are not tax deductible.
Thank you,
David & Lana Fechter
Below are meeting minutes and comments from a public hearing December 10, 2024 in the Town of Farmington.
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