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A social media post is accusing a Bevil Oaks council member, who is also the husband of the mayor, of removing a sign down then putting it back up. Becky Emmons serves as mayor and her husband, David, serves as a Ward 2 council member.
Jason Merendino said the sign was purchased to help advertise roofing services for himself and his business partner, Bradley Franks. According to Merendino, the sign was put up on Dec. 1 in the parking lot of a BBQ stand next to Kings Super Mart on State Highway 105 in Bevil Oaks. Merendino and Franks discovered the sign was removed before noon on Dec. 3.
Merendino said Franks discovered the sign in Emmons’ garage after receiving information. In a social media post, Franks stated he knocked on the door of the mayor’s home and she told him that her husband was not home.
“She also told me he did not take the sign and that he only removes political signs,” he said.
Merendino said, while Franks was backing out of the Emmons driveway, he noticed the sign inside the garage of the mayor’s home. Merendino said he has a video of David Emmons claiming the sign was a “cleaning sign.” He also posted a video measuring the sign was 22 feet from SH 105 and Davis Emmons said the sign needed to be 20 feet from the road.
“There is no city ordinance that can be found that says it has to be 20 feet from the highway,” said Merendino.
He added the city manager and a previous council member were unable to find any ordinance stating the 20-foot rule. Merendino said David Emmons also said there could be no signs for solicitation in Bevil Oaks.
“There are signs soliciting all along the highway in Bevil Oaks,” he added. “He just took our sign down.”
Merendino noted his father, Bud, is a Ward I council member in Bevil Oaks, and feels that the reason the sign was removed.
Franks stated he contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and a deputy retrieved the sign from Emmons’ home and returned it to the owners.
“It’s a shame the mayor of Bevil Oaks would lie to cover for her husband/Bevil Oaks council member,” Franks posted. “Disgusting and disgraceful! Barbara Emmons and Doug Emmons really showed their true colors today! Zero integrity! Such a shame for the City of Bevil Oaks.”
Mayor Emmons did not respond to an email request by The Examiner for comment on the incident.