Independence, Iowa deemed a large American flag too expensive to fly, and the town leaders voted unanimously to take it down.

KCRG reports the city council voted unanimously to remove the flag by Triangle Park.

“Officials say high winds frequently damage the flag,” according to the news station. “Lighting problems and a broken electronic sign also add to costs.”

“I live close to it and have problems even putting out my garbage for collection,” Independence Mayor Bonita Davis tells The Courier.

“You have to see it to believe the wind.”

Davis says she wanted to keep the flag up through Memorial Day — something that apparently didn’t happen.

“The council may be upset with the city manager and I if we decide to do this,” she says.

“I can imagine my city going into an uproar if we don’t fly the flag this weekend.”

Some veterans volunteered to pay for the flag, while others wondered why that should be left up to them.

“True, the VFW will (probably) step forward and fly a flag out there … (But) why is this not the city’s responsibility?” Korean War veteran Bill Coulter asked the city council.

The Independence Bulletin Journal reports Coulter’s family paid to keep the flag flying.

Coulter tells the paper “his family is donating enough money for two 12’ x 18’ Flags and another neighborhood group is forming to see if they can arrange for future financing.”

A local businessman also offered to pay for flags.

“Coulter says he enjoys seeing the Flag flying from his backyard,” the paper reports.