FRENCH CAMP, Calif. (TND) — The California county that complained about a Camping World store’s 128-foot flagpole decided Thursday to keep the pole and flag up.

San Joaquin County told The National Desk (TND) that day that its Code Enforcement Division was discussing the tower with the French Camp site after concerns about its foundation.

The store put up the pole without a permit or official approval, the county said. The county says the Community Development Authority reviewed the plans after Camping World submitted an application and decided later that day that the pole could stay.

County officials said they were concerned about the pole’s proximity to Interstate 5. The store is located on an exit ramp to the freeway.

Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World, told local broadcaster KTXL that there were no safety issues with the structure.

“If we felt that we were putting people in danger or causing problems in air traffic, which would be absolutely not OK, then I would not do it,” he said.

Lemonis also wanted the store’s American flag to remain flying, adding that if the banner had simply been an advertisement for Camping World, he would not have issued an order to keep it up, according to KTXL.

“It symbolizes what we feel about this country. Many veterans work for us and many veterans shop with us,” he said.

San Joaquin County told TND that it never asked the store to take down the flag. The only issue was the height of the pole.

Lemonis linked the structure to the family business he was involved with as a child, telling KTXL that large flagpoles have been a part of his life since he immigrated to the United States.

“I was fortunate enough to be able to come to this country and become a citizen, and I’m grateful for that. It’s been part of my life since I was a little kid down in Miami, Florida, where we had the biggest flagpole in Miami at our car dealership,” he said.

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