Last One Out, Turn Off The Lights!

If you are thinking about operating a business in West Virginia, or owning land in West Virginia, you might want to think again.
(See the photos and read the article below).

LinkedAds.com, LLC website signs (closeup)

LinkedAds.com, LLC website signs (distance view)

(where signs once stood, now there is a farm fence)

I own LinkedAds.com, LLC, a classified ads company and website publishing company in Millwood, West Virginia. With over 1,600 domain names for building websites, I am one of the largest domain name owners in the state of West Virginia. For classified ad websites, I own some of the simplest and easy-to-remember website names on the Internet, such as HousesForSale.com, MobileHomesForSale.com, MotorcyclesForSale.com, DumpTrucksForSale.com, TractorsForSale.com, HorseTrailersForSale.com, etc. etc. (I own over 1,300 similar domain names, but only about 200 are websites at this time..... see them at LinkedAds.com). If you have ever seen a "No Hunting" sign on a tree, then you can easily remember my domain name and classified ad website at NoHunting.com (and you can also go to NoSearching.com) to see links to my 200 classified ad websites. I also operate several scam advisory websites such as CashiersCheckScam.com, CounterfeitCashiersCheckScam.com, and InternetScamAlert.com, which have saved many people from becoming scam victims. I also operate several local advertising websites, such as RipleyWV.com, PointPleasantWV.com, WinfieldWV.com, GallipolisOH.com, JacksonOH.com, etc., and numerous websites for businesses, primarily focusing on dealers who sell manufactured homes, motorcycles, ATV's, tractors, horse trailers, etc. (For dealers, I operate their website and I also do their advertising on my classified ad websites).

Although I operate a lot of websites, I have came to the conclusion that West Virginia is a poor choice location to operate a business, and here's why.......... On Nov. 01, 2006, I received a certified letter from the WV Department of Highways (WV DOH) which stated that my signs (shown in the top two photos) were illegal and in violation of the Laws and Regulations Chapter 17 Article 22 Relating to Outdoor Advertising in West Virginia. As a result, I had 30 days to remove the signs (or potentially face legal action), even though the signs (and the LinkedAds.com website business) were located on my 37 acre property. Basically my business office and my signs were in my yard..... yes I have a relatively big yard, but the fact is I mow it all, so it is my yard. It is pretty bad when a person can own a piece of property but can't have a sign in his yard..... there was nothing inappropriate about my signs. On Nov. 30, 2006, the 30th day of my notice, I removed my business signs, and on Dec. 01, 2006 where the sign posts were I put in 3 locust fence posts for a farm fence. Which looks better? (Duhhhhh).

Businesses across West Virginia supposedly are going to have to get a permit for many of their business signs. While in some instances it seems no fee is required (if the sign is within 50 ft. of the business), often it requires the payment of a "permit fee" which could cost in the hundreds of dollars. If my business (LinkedAds.com, LLC) was located near the road where the signs once stood, supposedly my signs would have been in compliance. But, because I am a larger property owner and I didn't put my business office "near the road ditch", my business signs were not in compliance because my business office was located about 850 feet from my business signs. Supposedly, the signs must be within 500 feet of the business. As a land owner and a business owner, I should be the one to decide where I will have my business signs. The signs (shown above) were on my property (not on the state right-of-way). I feel it is discrimination, because if I had my office on a 1/4 acre parcel of land where my signs were, then it seems my signs would have been in compliance. Since I own 37 acres of land though, they weren't in compliance.

Land owners in West Virginia seem to be losing their property rights (deeds and wills seem to be increasingly worthless). In early November, 2006, a property of about 360 acres located less than one-half mile from my signs shown above was taken (or is still in the process of being taken) by eminent domain for a reserve center / armory (which will be sandwiched between two housing areas). The issue is that if the land could be sold (per the deed), then there was no reason for eminent domain. Regardless of the numerous people in opposition to "eminent domain" at the public meeting (the Alpine Theater was full), the Jackson County Commission (3 members) seems to have made the ultimate decision to proceed with eminent domain. As another example, on the rear side of my property (about 700 feet away) there is a sewer treatment plant that at numerous times has had serious odor problems since it was built around 1998. When one can smell the sewer odor up to 1,200 feet away from the sewer treatment plant, obviously there is a problem (my confidence in the West Virginia DEP at this point is also "zero"). When such plants can be built on just two acres of land and use adjoining land owners property as a "stench" buffer, I consider that a form of property theft. The local officials are well aware of this (including the Jackson County Commission), but since I guess it isn't in their face, little has been done to correct the "engineering disaster". Regardless of what anyone may say has been done to correct the odor problem so far, the sewer odor problem remains! (One doesn't need to be overly educated to know that a large sewer tank with many holes cut in the top of it and with forced air being pumped inside is going to stink.....and the wind blows the "stench" across the field into the faces of the area residents). The residents petition was basically ignored in July, 2006 by the Jackson County Commission, because during the public meeting (for protest) they made a motion to proceed to seek funding for another phase of sewer hookups (Phase II) for the town of Cottageville, WV. We can't tolerate "Phase I", so how can they expect us to tolerate the addition of "Phase II"? There seems to be a big conflict of interest here, because one of the three county commissioners is supposedly also the chairman of the Mid Ohio Valley Regional Council, who does the grant application process for the sewer extensions.

When the issue of "Sunday hunting" was put before a vote among county voters several years ago, of course Sunday hunting was overturned because the people in the towns out-numbered larger acreage landowners. When a "School Bond Levy" is put before a vote among county voters, it usually passes, and the land owners / property owners are the ones to get stuck with the increase in taxes. As for the officials who come up with the "plans", well, some of them likely have some of their govenment retirement funds invested in stocks and bonds. Guess what? Most stocks and bonds aren't invested in Jackson County, West Virginia. Now for those officials (and board members) who don't have their money invested in stocks or bonds but rather have a huge bank account and are living in a house on a one-half acre lot, guess what? Yes, you guessed it, the "School Bond Levy" probably doesn't affect them much. So for anyone considering to "invest in West Virginia", I say forget it. Keep your money in stocks, bonds, or the bank, because if you invest in land, someone is going to figure out a way to either send you a larger tax bill, or worse yet, take the land from you. Several years ago I have even faced the threat of eminent domain when the local sewer company wanted to put the sewer treatment plant on my property....in the best part of my field....how convenient!!! Several months ago I read the front page headline in a local newspaper that there was a plan to have a "rails to trails" project from Ripley, West Virginia to Millwood, West Virginia (a distance of about 8 miles). Guess what......no one asked me, and "I own part of the old railroad". Like I say, it seems some people here have (or have had) plans for "my property". I own 4 land properties within a 2 mile distance (total of about 100 acres), and I have approximately 60 adjoining property owners. Simply put, if you have your money in the bank, you will have far less headaches than if you buy land. And, you won't have local officials with secret plans to put sewer lines through your property (as I still do). I am not a public park!

A lot of land owners have lost some of their property rights without even knowing it. When legislators and / or county commissioners impose distance requirements to churches, cemeteries, schools, etc. etc, then the land owner is suddently restricted from doing some things with their land. The fact is, the land owner may have owned their land for years, and although there is nothing written in their deed saying they can't have certain types of businesses, in the end they can't. I wouldn't mind if ten churches wanted to build right up against my property line....it wouldn't bother me a bit (regardless of the type of church)...... but if a church was to build within 500 feet of my property and then I couldn't do with my land as I wish, then I would consider it a form of "property theft". (Land is an asset, just as a bank account is, and the theft of either is robbery). Just as an example, if a business in West Virginia is within 500 feet of a church, it seems a business can't even get an outdoor advertising permit for a sign. SINCE WHEN SHOULD CHURCHES HAVE MORE RIGHTS THAN LAND OWNERS? If churches don't want some types of businesses or signs within 500 feet of them, then they should buy 50 acres of land and build their church in the middle of it........yes, do what I did......BUY A PIECE OF LAND. If churches have money to "build a bigger church", then they should have money to "buy a bigger piece of land". Churches shouldn't be allowed to buy one acre of land and then by law indirectly infringe upon neighboring properties! If churches are so caring and understanding, then they should understand this.

Now, getting back to the issue of business signs in West Virginia, when a land owner and business owner can not make their own decisions of where to locate their business and their business sign on their own property, then why should anyone want to do business in West Virginia? A lot of businesses will be negatively impacted with this stupid law. Some smaller companies will likely go out of business, due to the inability for the public to know that they even have a business. Although I operate about 275 websites (classified ad websites, websites for businesses, etc.), my business no longer has a public sign viewable to the public (because I refuse to pay a "permit fee" which I consider to be just another form of a "business tax"). However, I am probably luckier than most. The reason is I don't need a sign along a highway, because 99% of my website visitors come from search engines, links from other websites, or website banners like the one shown below.



I never knowingly had anyone to complain about my business signs. I kept them mowed around, and the trash picked up along the roadway. With approximately 2000 ft. of road frontage along WV Route 2, I had one of the cleanest properties between Millwood and Ravenswood. Just as an example, if you want to see how filthy some of the Route 2 road ditches were between Millwood and Ravenswood in February and March 2006, please visit www.PleaseDoNotLitter.com. (On the website you can see everything from old tires along the road to four deer carcasses at a scenic overlook). IT IS VERY FUNNY!.....BUT IT REALLY ISN'T FUNNY THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUCH A LACK OF RESPECT FOR LAND AND NATURE!!! Maybe someone should give the DOH workers (who are making us take down our business signs) some trash bags and let them pick up the trash across the state. It just might help "tourism in West Virginia". I have been to 15 countries and I have lived overseas in Asia doing international business for more than 10 years, and countries that rely heavily on tourism are often "third world" countries.

If you are one to complain that a lot of items in some of the large retail stores are "Made in China", well, it is true. But remember though, no one is making you buy it. Or, could it be that someone is? Afterall, if businesses in West Virginia can't have business signs and go out of business as a result, we as consumers have to buy products from somewhere, don't we? (so it might as well be from China or some other country). My wife and I have operated a business in Taiwan, and I can say it is much easier to do business in Taiwan than it is in Millwood, West Virginia.

In the photo below of the bridge spanning the Ohio River in Ravenswood, West Virginia, the sign says "Welcome to West Virginia", and it says "Open For Business". Funny thing is, within one-half mile of this sign, businesses have had to remove their signs. If businesses can't have signs to advertise their business (especially when both are on their own property), then in my opinion the slogan for West Virginia being "open for business" isn't appropriate. Until some things change in West Virginia to help protect the rights of land owners and the business climate for business owners, I say
"Last One Out, Turn Off The Lights!"



All comments within this online article are the opinion of David Riffle.

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