Buisnessman contests sign citations issued at Helen event

by Kristen Mangum

White County News

A South Carolina businessman is threatening legal action against the City of Helen for what he says were unwarranted sign violation citations issued during a recent event in the city.

Gene Gore of Gore's Corvette World in Greenville, S.C., came before the city commission at its meeting on Tuesday to dispute the nearly 40 citations issued to him and Doug and Eddie Michael of Alpine Antique Auto & Buggy Museum in Helen during a classic car auction held on the museum's property on Oct. 10-12.

“We can ask for a jury trial and I'm going to do that on Nov. 12,” Gore told the commission. “I'm not asking you for any favors - because I don't know you and you don't know me - but I do not feel like I'm guilty of a thing.”

Gore will appear in municipal court on Nov. 12 to face the citations issued him.

Gore said that when he came to Helen in June to hold a similar auction event, he spoke with City Manager Jerry Elkins and Police Chief Ted Ray to discuss what, if any, city criteria he would need to follow or meet for the June event.

“They were very nice to me and they were very professional,” Gore said, mentioning he was allowed to post signage in the city to advertise the event.

“[The event] was very successful, and we were treated with dignity from everyone in the city and I appreciate it.”

According to Gore, since the June event was so successful, he decided to come back in October.

Gore also told commissioners that he sent out 20,000 flyers before the event and advertised Helen's Oktoberfest celebration on the literature.

“I didn't see any need to meet [with the city since I knew what to do from the June event],” Gore said.

City officials, however, said Gore did not apply for a special event permit as he was required to do, and as he did during the June event.

“The fact is that he knew what he needed to do,” Elkins said Wednesday. “He did it the first time [in June].”

Gore, on the other hand, reported that he did everything he was told to do - but said that two city police officers showed up during the first day of the event on Oct. 10 and wrote him several sign citations.

“I immediately went out and took down all the signs except for one, which said free admission,” Gore said.

He noted that the same two officers came back on Oct. 11 and wrote more citations. He mentioned that he “never received any warnings, only the citations.”

“We lost a lot of our participants,” Gore said, adding that the show was called off for the final Oct. 13 date.

In all, 39 citations [to Gore and the Michaels] were issued.

“[Gore] had the event and the Michaels hosted the event on their property, and both [Michaels] are listed on the occupational tax certificate,” Elkins said Wednesday as to why all three men were issued citations.

Elkins said Gore and the Michaels were in violation of the city's special event ordinance and the city's sign ordinance.

Ray defended his department's actions on Tuesday, but would not debate what he said had become a judiciary issue.

Gore and the Michaels were joined by numerous others at the meeting on Tuesday, but only Gore addressed commissioners.

Gore said Gore's Corvette World is not a non-profit organization, but that it does raise money for cancer charity with a portion of proceeds going to Courageous Kidz.

More citations coming for

alcohol sales?

In addition, Elkins said Wednesday more citations could be issued regarding alcohol sales during the auction event.

Elkins also said that a hearing concerning violations of Samuel Swafford's alcohol beverage license would be held on Nov. 4. Elkins said Swafford, who apparently leases Remember When Theatre in Helen from the Michaels, allegedly sold alcohol to an underage person(s).