During a Sept. 15 meeting, Jackson County commissioners voted unanimously to terminate a pair of billboard leases the county holds with Allison Outdoor Advertising, the oldest of which has been in place since 1976.

The Smoky Mountain News reports that the vote came following Reconcile Sylva’s August attempt to rent space on one of the county-owned billboard sites to display a message opposing the Confederate soldier statue that has stood on the steps leading up to the historic courthouse since 1915.  Allison Outdoor explained to Reconcile Sylva that the land lease included a provision with the county prohibiting the use of the billboard for “political ads or issues, or for promotion of subjects which are politically sensitive or which might tend to imply the County of Jackson has taken a position in regards to a political matter.” Allison worked out an alternative location for the customer.

The commissioners, in reviewing the situation, ultimately determined that if a billboard company or potential customer were to ask county staff to adjudicate particular language choices and messaging on the billboards it could put the county in an awkward position.

Even though the commissioners voted to terminate the lease, there is a six month notice period on any termination.  The Jackson County noted in the article that they might be open to working through changes in the lease with Allison Outdoor.

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