In a special meeting on New Year’s Eve, the Marlinton Town Council Sign Committee discussed placement of blue directional signs as part of the SMS (Specific Motorist Services) program.

“Danny Young, a professional engineer with WVDOH [West Virginia Department of Highways] had made a recommendation for placement of signs for the businesses that have been accepted into the SMS program,” committee chairman David Zorn said. “He has recommended the signs be placed on the light posts at the intersection of Third Avenue and Route 39.”

At this time, the Pocahontas County Opera House and The Old Clark Inn are the only businesses accepted into the SMS program.

“From my understanding, it’s going to cost $375 per sign for a three year period,” Zorn explained.

The Old Clark Inn owner Nelson Hernandez said that he wasn’t sure if his business and the Opera House would be on the same sign or if they would each have a sign, but he said he would contact Young at the WVDOH to find out. Regardless, both businesses would pay the $375 over the next three years.

Mayor Joe Smith said he is concerned about the signs because the Town of Marlinton has just been accepted to the On Trac and Blueprint programs, both business district programs.

“My concern is, under the two programs we got accepted into, they may come down,” Smith said. “If the comprehensive plan doesn’t want them and wants something else, they could come down.”

“I doubt it, because you sign a legal binding contract with the State of West Virginia that would keep them up,” committee member Robin Mutscheller said.

Hernandez added that since the signs are part of a WVDOH program, there would not be an issue.

“The reason they are asking for permission from the town is because those poles are owned by the Town of Marlinton,” Hernandez said.

The committee voted and unanimously agreed to make a recommendation to Marlinton Town Council to send a letter to the state in support of the signs.

Suzanne Stewart may be contacted at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com