Lino Lakes Passes English-Only Resolution

LINO LAKES, Minn. - The city of Lino Lakes passed an English-only resolution for official documents on Monday night.

English is now considered suburb's official language, thereby printing city materials in English-only.

City Councilman Dave Roeser sponsored the proposal. He says by limiting the city’s materials to English-only is purely an attempt to save Lino Lake money, even though the city has never spent money to translate official documents or meeting minutes. Roeser believes it could save the city money in the future.

For some people, this is turning into an immigration issue. Opposition is coming from across the county, including the ACLU.

VIDEO (left) Immigration or Financial Issue? Chuck Samuelson with the ACLU and Roeser discuss this controversial issue.

People who spoke to council member on Monday said they were embarrassed and called the action racism.

“For this to be a budget issue – it is a humorous attempt at budgeting I have ever heard,” one man said.

“You scare me – It is like Nazi Germany,” a woman told them.

Other Lino Lake residents, who spoke to FOX 9, support the idea.

"No one, comes to bat for us when it comes down to deciphering when we can’t speak their language,” said Lino Lakes resident Roy Forsblade. “You don’t get no help from nobody.”

“We speak English in this county and that’s the language the people should learn if they want to move here,” said another resident, Steve Paul.

Some exceptions to the ordinance include, education, public safety and health care/