'Triple K' signs in Sylva cause outrage; owner to remove after Citizen Times reporting

ASHEVILLE - While driving down N.C. 107, through Sylva in Jackson County, a series of bright pink signs advertise new developments in the area.

Yet, some passersby might note another detail: the initials on the developments' names.

All of the signs state "Kole Kim Kurve," "Kole Kim Kommerce," "Kole Kim Korner," "Kole Kim Komplex" and "Kole Kim Kountry" were "coming soon." Six signs were located along N.C. 107 running through Sylva, along with another sign located on Skyland Drive.

All initials form KKK ― the commonly used acronym for the Ku Klux Klan, an infamous white supremacist organization — which led to a wave of community backlash in Sylva and efforts by community leaders to remove the signs.

Sylva Mayor David Nestler said he "has probably gotten more calls and complaints" about the signs than "just about anything" since he joined the town board in 2015.

"I don't think anyone in the community really likes them," Nestler told the Citizen Times about the signs. "We don't like controversial signs that people see when they drive through town."

The owner of the signs is Kole Clapsaddle, a Sylva-based businessman who owns Kole Kim Inc., with Kim Clapsaddle. Kole owns the land on which the signs have been placed.

He owns multiple North Carolina companies, according to the N.C. Business Registration portal. Another example is OPM Holdings, which owns the Zaxby's off Main Street in Sylva.

Kole Clapsaddle was the owner of Chief Saunooke Bear Park, which closed in 2013 after federal regulators fined the park $20,000 and found that owners failed to provide adequate shelter, food and veterinary care for the animals.

Clapsaddle has not responded to calls from the Citizen Times.

Mayor asks for compromise. Told 'no'

The signs were posted around the "beginning of November," according to Nestler, who had recently approached Clapsaddle about the signs.

When Nestler spoke to Clapsaddle about a possible compromise, he said the owner was unwilling to modify the signs.

"The most direct thing I did was to call him and ask him if there was some sort of compromise we could come to or any sort of changes he'd be willing to make to the signs," Nestler said. "And the answer to that was 'no.'"

Nestler said it's difficult to regulate language on signs located on private property, despite community aggrievement.

"Bottom line is: Our sign ordinances don't police the First Amendment," he said.

According to a social media post, a protest against the signs has been scheduled Dec. 14 during the Sylva Board of Commissioners meeting at Town Hall.

"I don't think he chose this design being naïve about it," Nestler said of the discussion with Clapsaddle. "I think he's well aware of the the way people interpret the signs."

Nestler said, regardless of intent, the signs "were a black eye."

"Whether their intent is racist or not, is irrelevant. It's how people interpret it, right?" Nestler told the Citizen Times. "And if you don't know anything about the town or Kole Clapsaddle, and you drive past the signs, it's a very safe assumption to make that there's a racist undertone there."

Owner to remove signs after Citizen Times questions

Nestler is currently transitioning out of office. Incoming mayor is Johnny Phillips, a long-time Sylva resident, who will be sworn in Dec. 14. According to the N.C. Board of Elections portal, Nestler is registered as unaffiliated and Phillips is a registered Democrat.

Phillips is familiar with Clapsaddle.

"I've known Kole my whole life, and I don't believe him to be a racist," Phillips told the Citizen Times.

Phillips commented on the negative community response to the signs, stating he thought "people were getting carried away about something that might not mean anything."

After speaking with the Citizen Times Dec. 13 about the protest organized against the signs, Phillips drove to Clapsaddle's office and spoke directly with him.

About an hour later, Phillips called the Citizen Times back to say the owner "has agreed to remove them."

In a text to the Citizen Times, Nestler called the move "great news" and said he is "glad Mr. Clapsaddle finally realized how those signs were hurting the community, or at least realized they could hurt his business interests."

As of 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 13, the signs were removed, according to Nestler.

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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Sylva business owner posts signs KKK initials cause outrage