WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Electronic billboards are a safety hazard and don't fit in with the "community's vision" for the county, the Putnam County Commission ruled Tuesday.
Commissioners ruled unanimously in favor of a recommendation from the Putnam County Planning Commission to deny a request from Lamar Advertising to change a county zoning ordinance to allow electronic billboards for commercial use along U.S. 35.
The Kenova advertising firm owns six billboard faces on U.S. 35 near the Interstate 64 interchange in Teays Valley. The company wants to replace the billboards with two 10-by-36-foot digital message signs.
David Powell of the planning commission said Tuesday that the request from Lamar does not meet county regulations, and would serve as too much of a distraction to drivers at the busy Teays Valley intersection.
Electronic signs for commercial use also "are inconsistent with the community's vision of the area," according to the ruling from the development authority.
Commissioners approved the planning commisison's recommendation, but said they would like to see more studies on how dangerous changing electronic signs are to drivers.
Commissioner Gary Tillis said allowing electronic signs on four-lane roads, such as the new U.S. 35, could bring in additional revenue from advertising taxes.
The electronic signs used by area churches, the Board of Education, post office and the county Parks and Recreation are "on premise" signs and do not fall under the commercial zoning ordinances, Powell said.
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Electronic billboards are a safety hazard and don't fit in with the "community's vision" for the county, the Putnam County Commission ruled Tuesday.
Commissioners ruled unanimously in favor of a recommendation from the Putnam County Planning Commission to deny a request from Lamar Advertising to change a county zoning ordinance to allow electronic billboards for commercial use along U.S. 35.
The Kenova advertising firm owns six billboard faces on U.S. 35 near the Interstate 64 interchange in Teays Valley. The company wants to replace the billboards with two 10-by-36-foot digital message signs.
David Powell of the planning commission said Tuesday that the request from Lamar does not meet county regulations, and would serve as too much of a distraction to drivers at the busy Teays Valley intersection.
Electronic signs for commercial use also "are inconsistent with the community's vision of the area," according to the ruling from the development authority.
Commissioners approved the planning commisison's recommendation, but said they would like to see more studies on how dangerous changing electronic signs are to drivers.
Commissioner Gary Tillis said allowing electronic signs on four-lane roads, such as the new U.S. 35, could bring in additional revenue from advertising taxes.
The electronic signs used by area churches, the Board of Education, post office and the county Parks and Recreation are "on premise" signs and do not fall under the commercial zoning ordinances, Powell said.
The signs, however, are not supposed to be used for commercial advertisement.
In other business, Workforce West Virginia is looking to hire 17 county residents between 17 and 24 years old for a six-week summer employment program.
Interested residents can apply to the program between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. May 21 at the Putnam County Vocational School.
Those eligible for the program must have family incomes that meet certain standards -- specifically $14,000 for a family of two or $22,523 for a family of four.
The program also has 25 backup slots available in case an employee gets sick or goes on vacation, said Jake Hunt with Workforce West Virginia.
Employment begins June 22 and ends July 31, and employees will earn $7.25 an hour for 30 hours a week. At least three hours each week will be spent on improving work readiness skills.
For information about Workforce West Virginia in Putnam County call 304-429-5900.
Reach Veronica Nett at veroni...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5113.
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This is the lamest excuse I've ever heard.
I see these types of signs all around the country and they don't appear to be a distraction.
In fact there was no data cited in the article supporting the notion that electroni billboards cause significantly more accidents. There was no data at all.
But who cares. Just more backward thinking in our state. No wonder WV came up dead last (#50) in Forbes.com's "happiest states" listing this week!