Dear Editor:

Where are our legislators in the State of West Virginia?

What a shame it is that they are not responding to the cry for help from Mom and Pop businesses that are being forced out of business because of the outdoor Advertising Regulations that they passed and revised in May 2010.

These regulations state that in order for a sign in a rural area to be legal it must be within 800 feet of an existing business on the same side of the road and the existing business must have a sign and be open to the public at least 25 hours per week.

Who wrote this regulation?

Our legislature passed this and the West Virginia Department of Transportation is adamant about enforcing it- with our tax money- on Mom and Pop businesses.

I will soon be the latest casualty, as my signs are adjacent to US Rt. 219 and are my front door. My business is located 7/10 mile from the road and my customers depend on the signs to let them know when I am open. According to this regulation, I cannot legally place signs within 660 feet of Rt. 219 since there is no business meeting the qualifications within 800 feet of my driveway.

I have been ordered by the WVDOT to remove my signs by May 6. This will shut down my business. Other Mom and Pop businesses have also been negatively affected by this regulation. Larger businesses seem to place signs wherever they like and the DOT is fine with it.

Making a living in rural Pocahontas County is not easy. In a county of fewer than 9,000 residents, a business must have tourist trade to survive. I have a very small store selling Amish-made cheeses and deli meats, bulk foods and some homemade specialty items and antiques. This store is on our farm.

We tried two other locations, but with the depressed economy, could not afford rent, so we moved home and built a 24x24 building for our kitchen and store. It was always our goal to provide a beautiful little place where people could come and find unique items to buy and to enjoy the hospitality of West Virginia people.

I wrote to several legislators asking that a "Stay" order be given so our signs could remain until the regulations are amended to allow us to have signage. We want to purchase permits, but the DOT will not allow it. I was also misled by DOT representatives who told me in February that they would return to discuss this with me. Instead, when they returned, they had an order for me to remove my signs in 30 days. Now that is some hospitality.

US Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin have responded to me and are inquiring about the problem.

Where is our State Legislature which caused the problem in the first place?

They can fix it.

Lois Mamak
Grandpa's Pantry

Buckeye