Another item on the agenda was the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day event. The council discussed road closures and a waiver of the open container ordinance to facilitate the celebrations. The event is set for March 17, with road closures planned from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on South Commerce, from the circle to Mango Street, depending on the crowd size. The motion to approve the event was contingent on the organizers providing proof of at least $1 million in liability insurance naming the city as an additional insured party.

In a separate matter, the council acknowledged the retirement of Corporal Matt Cloud after 17 years of service. Cloud was honored with a commemorative service video and various awards, including his uniform badge and a retired officer identification card. The council approved the declaration of Cloud’s service handgun as surplus, allowing it to be presented to him upon his retirement.

Additionally, the council announced an HGTV watch party scheduled for March 9. This event is expected to attract public interest and will be live-streamed. The meeting also featured recognition for school resource officers and a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Temple Israel in Sebring.