Show Cost Taxes T axes Cause Industry To Take Business Elsewhere A straight-forward straight report on relationships re reo of ot the Moab mining and business communities with specific suggestions for Improvement Improve Improve- ment was under consideration this week by officers and directors directors directors tors of the Grand County Chamber Chamber Cham Chain ber of Commerce The page 10 report was written b by Floyd T. T Atkin supervising analyst and Wayne DeBry associate associate as as- analyst of the industry services unit of the state department department department depart depart- ment of employment security It was based on a survey undertaken undertaken under under- taken last month at the request of the Chamber of Commerce In connection with the survey a detailed prepared by the industry services unit was circulated among area mining companies Answers to the quest quest- and other information obtained in the course of the survey brought out the following points From the facts gathered two seem to stand out first there seems to be general agreement on what should be done to improve Improve Improve Im im- Im- Im prove the overall living and business business bus bus- iness mess situation in n the area Second Second Sec See ond there is no end of confusion reg regarding the methods to be employed employed employed em em- in attaining the desired goals Basically much of the confusion confusion ion and uncertainty seems to stem from the right hand not knowing what the left hand Is doing In other words each organization org org- both public and private private ate appears to a large extent to develop their own progress and go their own individual ways It has been recognized by everyone that Moab has been losing a great deal of mining business to other areas just how much was being spent outside the area as far as the analysts are advised was unknown The present survey reveals the startling startling start start- ling fact that Moab is getting only 14 per cent of this s business It is noted that Grand Junction over miles from the area is Moab's greatest individual competitor com corn r with 23 per cent of the business Criticism voiced by mining companies com corn who answered the quest quest- covered the local price situation quality of repair service ice lee taxes governmental services and attitudes and the lack of many community conveniences and facilities In connection with one phase of the criticisms the report said in part It has been brought to the analysts' analysts attention that the city has placed contracts for better than for city utility im Im- im- im It is also evident that the county and state are spendIng spending spending spend spend- ing large sums for road improvement improvement improve improve- ment throughout throughout- the area That many people do not know or realize the extent and cost of all these projects seems clear It seems doubly certain from information given the analysts that most have little or no idea of what plans are under study and consideration for future city and area development Looks like a co oo public relations program is needed The report said also that the Grand County Chamber of Commerce Commerce Com Corn merce is to be commended for its present action toward seekIng seeking seek seek- ing a solution to these problems It Is evident that the solution will not be an easy one and It ItIs ItIs itis Is certain that those Interested In Improving the present situation situation situa situa- tion will have to accept responsIbility responsibility responsibility for a lot of hard work Another important thing that must be constantly kept in mind is that all these desired improvements improvements improve improve- ments will not come over night To regain the ground already lost will In Itself take tint time e. e Suggestions made In the report Include I 1 I. Set up a planning committee with representation from all Interested Interested Interested In In- groups groups city city and county government and industry 2 Consideration may be given to employing a full time technically technically cally trained executive secretary for the committee who committee who would be responsible for carrying out the committees committee's co program activities and research 3 Launch and permanently establish as a part of the chainer's chambers chamber's cham chain ers ber's program a public relations function to keep the people better informed concerning area problems problems problems lems and efforts being expended toward the solution of these problems 4 Launch a campaign and im Ira- it with practical organIzed organIzed organized organ organ- I contact work to bring busIness business bus bus- iness mess men and mine operators closer together and to set up a system of Information exchange between the two groups A limited number of copies of the report are available at the state employment office Chamber Chamber Cham Chain ber of Commerce officials urged that local businessmen read the report and nd make known to the chamber their opinions on how conditions cited might be rem rem- |