The Inverness city board has voted to protect war memorials downtown.

According to partner newspaper the Citrus County Chronicle, the board voted 5-1 Thursday to approve a plan to surround war memorials at the Historic Citrus County Courthouse with fencing to protect the memorials during festivals and events.

Sophia Diaz-Fonseca, chairwoman of the Citrus County Historical Resources advisory board, said often the memorials are abused and disrespected by the public.

For example, people attending concerts in the courthouse square sit on the monuments.

The plan is to put a wrought-iron fence up around the monuments.