Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World, has won the right to keep flying a giant U.S. flag over his RV dealership in North Carolina, but the victory came at a cost: thousands of dollars of fines, according to the Statesville Record & Landmark and other news outlets.
This story by Mark Price originally appeared in The Charlotte Observer.
Statesville officials announced Monday that a deal was reached to change an ordinance so reality show host Marcus Lemonis can keep a 40-by-80-foot U.S. flag over his Grander RV dealership.
But Lemonis must pay the $14,350 in fines he racked up for refusing to take it down for months, with an additional $2,000 for the city’s legal costs, WBTV said.
Lemonis made national news this summer for refusing to take down the flag, which he says was raised as a show of patriotism and support for the military.
“Money was never a factor,” Lemonis said in a series of tweets. “Thank you to all that felt the need to support. (Statesville) has great people and I will continue to support. Would love to donate the same size flag to downtown Statesville.”
The Statesville City Council approved a first reading of the newly amended ordinance Monday, and set a second reading for Oct. 21, WCNC reported.