English? It's official here The County Board approves an official language By P. Zarling & K. Drewieske News-Chronicle Members of the Brown County Board Diversity Affairs Council said they're not sure which direction to take now that the board has declared English the county's official language. The board passed the Brown County Diversity Resolution of 2002 Wednesday by a vote of 16-9. The county still will be required to offer services to people and provide interpreters for people who don't speak English under the Civil Rights Act of 1968. The Diversity Affairs Council strongly objected to the measure and urged the County Board to reject it. "This isn't saving the county any money, nobody (in the public) is asking for it, why would you want it?" said Rodney Coltier, a member of the council. "Taxpayers are not saving any money. "All you're doing is dividing the community. I know people are bringing up patriotism and 9-11 and that, but I don't see how dividing the community is being patriotic." He noted the country wasn't founded by people who spoke just English, and he said most people who come to Brown County are trying to learn the language. Sup. Pat Collins, who voted in favor of the resolution, said the County Board doesn't have to follow the direction of the Diversity Affairs Council, and they are just an advisory group. "Do we accept all the recommendations of the Executive Committee, or the Education and Recreation Committee?" he asked board members. He added there are extremists on both sides of the issue, but from what he has heard, many people wanted the resolution passed. Coltier said he's not sure how the council will rebound from this decision. "Most of us sit on at least two or three other boards, and we might want to put our efforts where we're going to see more results," he said. The approved resolution, submitted by Sup. Mary Marquardt, does not actually say English is the official language, but does "affirm English as the language of government and commerce." Paul Linzmeier, head of the Diversity Affairs Council, asked that the council have a chance to review the resolution Marquardt wrote before the board voted on it, but the motion to refer to the council was defeated. "We believe forced conformity ... encourages resistance and develops lasting resentment," he said. The board did spend some time debating whether to send the hot issue back to the Diversity Council, which two weeks ago recommended the County Board not pass a resolution. "There's not a financial impact here, good things take time, there's nothing wrong with referring it back," said Sup. Jim Schmitt. Others said the board shouldn't wait. "This certainly has had a lot of hype," said Sup. Dan Haefs. He considered the resolution a non-issue, saying that nothing would really change whether the resolution passed or not. He added people will not remember this resolution 10 years from now, but they will remember more important issues like the Mental Health Center. "This is going to be the least important issue I've ever voted on ... it's just really insignificant," Haefs said.