Thursday’s Door County Legislative Committee meeting dealt mostly with how the local government should respond to a discussion that has enveloped the state and country in recent months. Before sending a final draft of the statement for approval from the Board of Supervisors as a whole, the committee sought to define racism and its effects properly. Kara Counard pushed to include language that tied racism to power dynamics within society. This is important as a vote in favor of the committee’s statement would end up having practical effects on how government is run. It could lead to changes in the strategic plan, implemented in hiring and elsewhere through protocols implemented by the Administrative Committee. The other option is to involve outside organizations, says Administrator Ken Pabich.

The committee also sought to label racism as a public health crisis. Other items discussed included support for the Sturgeon Bay Historical Committee’s plan to repair the tower at Potawatomi State Park.