STATESVILLE, N.C. — The mayor of Statesville is proposing a change to a city ordinance that governs the size of flags.
The proposed change, if it is approved, would allow a huge American flag being flown by GanderRV next to I-77 to continue to fly.
The city had been trying to get CampingWorld, that owns GanderrRV to replace the flag with a smaller one that would conform to the city’s flag ordinance.
That ordinance limits flags to 25 feet by 40 feet. The Gander RV flag is twice that size - 40 by 80 feet.
Some longtime residents like Phil Ingram think the city is out of line.
“It’s the first thing people see when they enter the town of Stateville and it is a beautiful flag”, said Ingram.
The idea behind the ordinance was to block groups that might want to raise large Confederate Flags like those that are in a couple of locations along I-40.
When Statesville filed suit to try to force the removal of the Gander flag, that sparked outrage locally and from across the country.
In a statement proposing the ordinance change, Mayor Costi Kutteh wrote,
“People from all over the country have jumped on this issue and called us names I ca’t repeat...When our community’s efforts to conduct business in an orderly lawful manner begins to hurt or businesses, then it is time to put a stop to it.”
The change to the ordinance must be approved by the City Council. The next meeting is set for July 15th.