The CEO of Camping World paid a visit to Statesville on Thursday to address the ongoing controversy over a flag flying over one of his businesses that the city says is too large.
It’s become a battle of patriotism versus law. The massive 40 by 80 foot flag flying over Gander RV off Interstate-77 violates the city’s ordinance which limits flags to 25 by 40 feet.
Marcus Lemonis has made it clear that he’s not backing down on the issues, and is obstinate about keeping the flag up.
“Bottom line is the flag’s not coming down,” he said on Wednesday, speaking to Statesville neighbors. “Give me a reason why this compromises the health, wellness or safety.”
Elon Musk Just Shared These ‘Very Wise Words’ from Ronald Reagan
Remember: The Gaetz Report Relies on Man Already in Jail for Falsely Accusing Someone Else of Exact Same Crime
Border czar Tom Homan says children of illegal immigrants could be put in halfway homes
Utah brothers survive avalanche after one pulls other out of snow burial
Career criminal, 31, arrested for 35th time — see his list of offenses
New bill would mandate gyms to carry equipment for Americans with disabilities
Internet Explodes Over Breathtaking National Anthem on NFL’s Christmas Day Ravens-Texans Game
Syrian rebel government hit by first challenge to power as 14 soldiers are killed by pro-Assad forces
They Surveyed Female Dems and Republicans About Affairs and Cheating – The Difference Is Worse Than You’d Expect
State Department’s ‘Global Engagement Center’ accused of censoring Americans shuts its doors
‘Squad’ Dems demand end to US investigation into anti-Israel weapons embargo
Illegal Accused of Killing Boy, 12, Gets Out of Jail Free for Christmas as Victim’s Family Mourns
Flashback: Rush Limbaugh’s Final Christmas Message – He Teared Up, And So Will You
Christmas family dispute leads to 3 shot, 1 stabbed at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport: police
Trump has Christmas message to ‘Radical Left Lunatics,’ tells inmates Biden granted clemency to ‘GO TO HELL!’
The city says they’ve been trying to contact Lemonis to work toward a solution, but that they never heard back. City Manager Ron Smith said the CEO’s didn’t even contact them about their visit to Statesville.
“He put a lot of pressure on us but our uniform development ordinance allows for text amendments at any time,” Mayor Costi Kutteh told media partner WSIC.
Since October, owner Marcus Lemonis has been fined $50 a day costing more than $11,000 so far, but he refuses to take the flag down.
“I really just comes down to, in my opinion, bureaucrats trying to control the size of something,” Lemonis said in a phone interview with FOX 46.
The city filed a lawsuit against the company but now appears to be backing down. Kutteh has asked the city planning board to draft a text amendment to the ordinance, calling it a good compromise.
“While we may have preferred that he come forward and make the request we’re entitled to do that, our staff does that on their own volition and often times the city council requests that,” Kutteh said.
He says the fight against Gander RV is starting to affect local businesses. City employees have been inundated with calls and emails about the flag some were even threatened. Kutteh says it’s time to put a stop to it.
“We don’t have anything against him or his company but we do not appreciate the way some of the comments that some of the folks that have contacted us have behaved and it’s very distasteful.”
Lemonis says his attorneys have told him that noncompliance with the lawsuit filed against him could result in being held in contempt of court. Lemonis says he’s willing to risk it all over the issue.
“I’m willing to go to the end on this issue. I’m willing to go to jail over it,” he said.
He says he also wants some clarification on what the city’s proposed amendment means.
“Is the city withdrawing the lawsuit? Are they filing the amendment or leaving the lawsuit? We’re a little unclear,” Lemonis said.
Kutteh says it would allow the flag to fly freely, but did not say what it would mean in terms of the fines that have already been issued.
“We would eliminate the injunction against flying the flag, but there’s been no direction on the lawsuit in terms of money damages,” he said.
