Without a permit, a timber crew last week cut several large trees on the state right-of-way along Interstate 85 where four billboards have been permitted.
State officials are investigating whether to revoke the four billboard permits issued to Corriher Beef & Sausage Co.
Officials with the Department of Transportation said the crew apparently cut the trees on the west side of I-85 south of Daugherty Road to give motorists a better view of the signs.
State officials discovered the downed trees while checking on some of the 18 billboard sites permitted to Corriher Beef &Sausage or Frank Tadlock, president of the company. Tadlock is a Rowan County commissioner.
Corriher Beef & Sausage owns more than 200 acres along I-85 with 212 miles of road frontage.
The timber cutters took down trees on the state right-of-way as well as adjacent property owned by Corriher Beef & Sausage. In the process, sections of a chain link fence marking the state right-of-way were destroyed.
A large truck was already loaded with logs ready to be taken off site. The truck disappeared early the next day as did some other equipment, state officials said.
At least one large tree was cut more than half way through and left to die and fall on or alongside the interstate, according to highway staffers who checked the scene.
District Engineer Chris Corriher said Friday that pictures, detailed notes and other information has been sent to Secretary of Transportation Lyndo Tippett, who decides what to do about the billboard permits.
The state allows some trees and vegetation to be cut along the state right-of-way but requires a permit first.
Phil Suggs handles the permitting process from the Department of Transportation’s division office in Winston-Salem. He said most outdoor advertising companies comply with the rules. But some go ahead and cut, thinking they can get away with it.
Suggs said the permits allow cutting of brush and timber 4 inches in diameter or smaller.
Several of the trees cut were more than a foot in diameter. At least one was 3 feet in diameter.
“We view this seriously,” said Suggs, adding that state officials also will send a report to the N.C. Attorney General’s Office.
Suggs said there have been cases across the state where billboard companies hire timber crews to quickly move in, cut timber blocking the view of the sign and rapidly move out.
Suggs admitted that the difficulty is in proving who hired the timber crews.
“The bottom line is people can’t cut down trees on somebody else’s property. They can’t come out and work on our right-of-way without our permission.”
Suggs said the state can pursue several remedies, including fines, revocation of permits and a requirement for replanting.
Local highway officials discovered one or more workmen still on site early this week.
Corriher said one man who was cleaning up the site clearly identified who had hired the timber cutters.
Corriher declined to name the individual or company, pending a decision by the Secretary of Transportation.
The permits were issued in February to SkyAd of Mooresville and are due to expire in mid-August. Permits expire after 180 days if billboard construction has not started.
Construction has started on one of the four billboards.
A representative of Sky Ad, Darlene Payne, said Friday she had no knowledge of any tree cutting.
“We would never do that,” Payne said.
She went on to say that she had sold some sites along I-85 in Rowan but would not say who had bought them.
She indicated she would not comment further until consulting her attorney.
Tadlock and other officials of Corriher Beef & Sausage were not immediately available for comment. They were out of town on vacation.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com
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