By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                Chiefland City Commissioners Monday discussed the possibility of cancelling the annual Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11 for lack of $200 in donations.

            Chiefland is the host city this year.

            City Manager Mary Ellzey said the city has a policy requiring groups that sponsor parades to pay the $250 road closing fee in advance of the event, but she said not all veterans groups in the county have responded. Veterans groups generally pay the fee.

 Ellzey said she has received $50 of the $250. The city received another small donation from a city official at the end of the commission meeting.

            “We don’t have the money for the roads so I don’t know if we’ll have a parade or not,” Ellzey said.

            The road closing fee pays for police to set up road blocks along the parade route.

            The Veterans Day Parade rotates between communities each year. The parade was cancelled last year in a different city.

            Mayor Chris Jones said he had talked to several people from AmVets and he was under the impression the money could be raised.

            “I think it will go through,” he said.

            But time is wasting. The city has applied for a road closure permit with the Florida Department of Transportation. Ellzey said the road closure fee must be paid before the parade.

            A reporter asked if the city could pay for the road closure fee out of its budget to ensure the parade happens and veterans are honored. Commissioners didn’t respond.

            “That comes from the veterans. Each post contributes,” Ellzey said.

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City of Chiefland Regular Meeting October 26, 2020; Posted October 26, 2020