The first of the new signs was installed at the south end of the town before Christmas.
Another sign will soon be installed at the north end of the town.
In a report to the meeting, Gore District Council roading manager Murray Hasler addressed concerns from the board the sign did not comply with the design, which was approved by the previous board.
The design’s artistic elements, including the choice of colours, were decided by Sarah Crispin of Crispin Design, who made several changes due to issues with the materials originally intended to be used, Mr Hasler said in the report.
Theses changes included changes to the colour of the pebbles and a darker colour for the concrete plinth, he said.
He noted more components of the design were to be added to the sign.
Chairwoman Nicky Coats said the sign did look amazing close up, but from further away it did not stand out.
"It’s very well-made — it just needs to pop.
"Obviously there’s some tweaking that needs done."
Board member Laurel Turnbull said it was hard to read the word "Mataura" on the sign.
"That needs to be highlighted more."
Mrs Coats said she understood the letters, made of corten steel, could be unbolted and painted.
However, it might be best to get the second sign up and both signs completed before a decision was made as to how to make the signs stand out more, she said.
An email from Mataura ward councillor Neville Phillips, who was not able to be at the meeting, was read by Mrs Coats.
In the email Cr Phillips asked the public and board members to be "patient and wait for the signs to be completed".
"If we need to make small changes to the lettering, we do so in a timely manner."
The original design included back-lighting for the signs.
Mr Hasler said special permission to light up the signs would need to be sought from Waka Kotahi, as it did not generally permit lighting on welcome signs to a town.
The signs were placed near street lighting, which might help them be seen better, especially if the colouring of the lettering was changed, he said.
Given it would take time for Waka Kotahi to process a request, board members passed a resolution asking Mr Hasler to seek permission for the signs to be lit.
They also resolved to investigate ways to make the lettering on the sign stand out.
