Companies will soon be able to clearcut trees in front of billboards via a new law the governor signed off on Thursday.

Several cites across the state urged the governor to veto the legislation, because it takes away their local control. Billboard companies will be allowed to cut trees on state roads running through towns.

Mayor Teresa Tomlinson of Columbus says taxpayers have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars planting trees on those roads and this lays those projects to waste. She wants some say over what trees companies can cut down.

"We hope to work with the industry or the Georgia Department of Transportation to see if we can’t have some input in the process before the taxpayer investment is destroyed," says Tomlinson.

The law goes into effect July 1st.

Tags: trees, billboards, clearcutting, Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson