KEYSER, W.Va. — When a visitor comes into a county for the first time, what does he see?

In the case of Mineral County, visitors see signs that are often cluttered, out of date, or sometimes just plain wrong.

Jennie Shaffer gave a brief PowerPoint presentation to her colleagues on the Mineral County Development Authority on Tuesday, showing examples of the many signs located throughout the county.

“Signs introduce our community to the public,” she said. “They can reveal the pride a community has; they introduce the economy, the culture and the history of a community.

“They give a first impression.”

Shaffer said she drove around the county taking pictures of some of the signs and in many cases was not pleased with what she saw.

At the entrance to Keyser’s Industrial Park, for example, the sign is hidden from view by trees.

“I had to cross the road and get in between the trees to see the list of businesses that are in the park,” she said.

Executive director Mona Ridder noted that the signs along U.S. Route 220 still direct the public to the authority’s old office at the Mineral County Health Department. The office moved to the Grand Central Business Center downtown more than a year ago.

“This is something the development authority needs to be aware of,” Shaffer said. “We need to improve our marketing techniques with the signage.”

While the group noted that there are some good, visible signs in areas such as Piedmont and Ridgeley, president Rick Linthicum pointed out that Ridgeley could benefit from signage linking the community to the C&O; Canal and attractions in nearby Cumberland.

“They are, after all, only a width of a river away from a national park,” he said.

Authority members are working to erect a lighted sign at the entrance to the Fort Ashby Business and Technical Park.

Contact Liz Beavers at lbeavers@times-news.com.