“The flag is not coming down. You can fine me all you want City of Greenville North Carolina,” Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis declared after the city began to fine him because it didn’t like the size of the American flag at one of his dealerships.

After the city had already fined him more than a thousand dollars because he wouldn’t take down the flag, and was threatening to continue to fine him, Lemonis posted his response to the city on social media last Thursday.

“The local officials are subjectively telling us that our flag is just too big. It’s not a pole issue, it’s not a safety issue, we comply with the FAA,” Lemonis explained in an interview with Todd Starnes Monday.

Lemonis noted that he had had similar problems with the size of the American flags at some of his other RV dealerships in other cities in North Carolina, California, Alaska and Wisconsin. “If the FAA says it’s not safe, we don’t put one up,” Lemonis said.

In Greenville’s case, when he was unable to contact anyone at the city to discuss the issue, Lemonis decided what his response to the city would be:

“Listen, I appreciate the fines you that want to give us. I understand that your town doesn’t love the flag as much as we love the flag. Unfortunately, and respectfully, it’s not coming down.”

“We’re not compromising what our beliefs are because of a simple dollar,” Lemonis told Starnes. “Telling me that my flag is too big doesn’t make the city protect its consumers more or protect its residents more; it’s just a bunch of nonsense, to be honest.”

“Ultimately, the city of Greenville met on Saturday and decided they ultimately didn’t want to deal with the resistance that was coming, I think from even their local folks,” Lemonis told Starnes.

As local ABC affiliate WCTI News 12 reports, Greenville’s mayor announced the city council’s decision to allow the flag to continue flying at Camping World:

“Greenville Mayor P.J. Connelly says that at a planning session, the city council voted unanimously to direct staff to develop an ordinance that will allow the flag at Camping World to fly:

“Council Member Les Robinson made a motion to direct staff to initiate a text amendment to allow a 3,200 sq. foot flag to be flown with one flag and a maximum flag pole height of 130 ft. with other various restrictions. Council Member Matt Scully seconded the motion and it passed unanimously 6:0.”

“The fines began at $50 for the first day, increasing to $100 for the second day, and $250 for each subsequent day, totaling $1,650 to date,” WCTI reports.

Still, the issue is far bigger than just one city’s decision about the flag, Lemonis said:

“The flag is a microcosm of overregulation. It’s a microcosm.”

Overregulation by government is preventing business owners from being able to run their businesses, and that needs to stop, Lemonis said:

“And I look at what’s happening out in California with S.B. 253, telling me that I got to record all the miles that the golf carts drive around the parking lot. All these crazy things that are happening.

“I think business should get back to basics, which is allowing companies to run their business, not hurt anybody of course, and allow people to display their patriotism the way they see fit. And, the way that we see fit is by putting up our big flag.

“And, I don’t think the size of the flag should be something in question and I don’t think they should be telling me how to run my business.”