Managers from People’s Bar and Grill, 2430 Lincoln Way, and Mickey’s Irish Pub, 109 Welch Ave., attended the Ames City Council meeting Tuesday night anxiously awaiting the council’s approval of a St. Patrick’s Day event that would close down Welch Avenue from 2 p.m. until midnight, and included live bands. However, after some discussion with Ames Police and the bar managers, the council decided to deny approval for the event.

“We usually send these requests through the event planning committee,” said Steve Schainker, Ames city manager. “There are a lot of good ideas here, but we haven’t worked with it yet.”

Ames Police Lt. Geoff Huff said he had some real concerns with the event, partly because they don’t have any additional staff planned for that day. He also said he was concerned because of problems encountered the last time Welch Avenue was closed for an event. The night resulted in “snowball fights that snowballed into larger fights,” and a pedestrian being hit by a car.

Council members agreed they would like to see these types of events operate successfully in Campustown, but because of poor planning, they were not comfortable approving this particular event.

On a positive note, the council unanimously approved all the sculptors chosen for the Art Around the Corner exhibit this summer. Anne Taylor, Ames public art commission member, showed the six sculptures that had been selected.

All sculptures selected for the exhibit were abstract solid designs, composed of different types of metals. Taylor also said the brochure they produce to promote the exhibit won an award.

Taylor then presented selections chosen for the neighborhood art program, which places sculptures chosen by residents in neighborhoods around Ames. The council quickly approved all three sculptures.

“This is cool,” said Dan Rice, 1st Ward council member, in reaction to the program.

Mayor Ann Campbell also declared March 22 to be Iowa State University Museums Day, which will mark the 25th anniversary of Art on Campus. The Christian Petersen Art Museum is also scheduled to open that day. The museum will have a large collection honoring Christian Petersen, who was Iowa State’s first sculptor-in-residence.