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Show THE ZEPHYRMAY 1991 PAGE 8 an interview with Bette Stanton Grand County Economic Development Director Ken Davey conducted an Interview with Bette Stanton. The Interview has been edited for clarity and length. Zephyr: What does the Grand County Economic and Community Development office do? economic recovery plan Bette: We do research and planning. We created a and we provide technical assistance to Implement that plan. We have developed a briefing center which has all sorts of videos, films, publications, and news clippings, everything that a person could want If they were promoting the area, especially In areas affecting economic and referrals from development In the future. We do active recruitment We have walk-in- s, the Chamber of Commerce. From the planning and research aspect we do the Grand County Profile, and that needs to be updated every year. We figure that about a third of our time Is spent on the Him Commission. What we do there Is an active marketing and recruitment program. And once we get them here we work as a coordinator between the company and the local community to keep It as trouble free as possible. Zephyr: In vour view how much has the county changed In the last two or three years, since the beginning of the big tourist growth? Bette: I think that the fact that one of our goals was to Identify Moab and Improve Its Image Is very Important, and I think weve succeeded In that One of my concerns Is that another major goal Is that we have a diversified economy. In the last year weve been so successful with the tourism Increase that weve had people comment, "we have all the eggs back In one basket Zephyr: What are the things you do to change that? Bette: We are constantly sending out packages, we have sight visits. About a week a visit a cabinet company that I aggressively pursued that Is moving out of we had ago Grand Junction because of tax reasons. They are looking very good. The recent coverage we got In the Salt Lake Tribune attracted some Interest, and Ive been working with a telemarketing company out of Salt Lake that Is looking good. Zephyr: What happened at the recent state conference on tourism? Bette: I was concerned at the Governors conference, where they had a pretty heavy emphasis on tourism as Utahs economic future. Were getting more tourist Industry than we have tax base to provide the Infrastructure and support services that we need for It So we are now experiencing some of the problems you have If you go too heavily on tourism without getting balance In other areas. When you have an Influx of tourists you have extra use of highways and roads, you have extra emergency services, all of these have to be paid for out of public funds. We need more motels of various types In order to take care of what Is coming, but very many more motel units and we have a water and sewer problem. I dont think either the city or county has reserves to take care of those things, so were probably going to have to look at Impact fees and different taxes on recreation, If were going to get serious. Zephyr: So what effect will protects such as the hotel complex at the church orchards and the rumors about other motel building, the development at the golf course, have on that? Bette: I see them fitting In. As far as the resort hotel, we do not have a high quality hotel. From the film Industry, which Is one of our areas of economic development, we have lost several good sized, high class movies because we dont have high class 5-y- ear facilities. But when you talk about the other rumors, thats exactly what I expect those are, because I've been hearing them for five years and I have yet to see a hotel or motel go up. Zephyr: Of the four counties In southeast Utah. Grand Countv has the highest percentage of retail trade and service workers, and the lowest average monthly Income. Doesnt further growth of tourism Impact the lives of people here by driving down the standard of living? Bette: Theres two ways of looking at that, because If you bring In a higher economic level of clientele, then they are going to be paying more all the way around, and those motels will be paying higher wages. And we balance this by trying to get In light Industry, particularly when It Is associated with sports and recreation. Z'Pbyr: On one side are people who say, we like things the wav they are. Another side says we need to push more and more tourism. And a third side savs lets not rmh on tourism, lets get back to extraction Industries, and be sure tourism and wilderness dont smother us. Your lob Is to work with all three views. Bette: Thats what makes the Job so challenging. From my point of view, I see modification on the part of everybodys opinion. I dont think theres an environmentalist alive who doesnt realize that you have to have a sound economic base for a community to person who doesnt have a survive. I dont think there Is a single we need a little of all of tt. diversified plan says sensitivity to the environment The and will generate some will successful be The oil well by Columbia Gas looks like It In but puts back the pot some of the mineral activity here. That not only helps our tax base, lease money that comes to the county. Its possible that If we can get economically healthier, there will be support businesses for tourism and film, to help fill the gap. But If you are talking mom and pop businesses Just for tourism, It Is not giving us the tax break. Furthermore, nowadays, with the taxes and business manager to to a paperwork forced on small businesses, you have be mighty good even survive. small businesses. Zephyr: So the picture doesn't look that bright for Association of Governments the Bette: I think Dixie Barksdales program through has been priceless. That has allowed a lot of people who have good Ideas and want to get their own businesses, It has helped them understand what It takes. This Is something we have needed for a long time. Zephyr: How does potential wilderness affect vour view of development? Bette: When you live here you know that there are hundreds of thousands of acres of beautiful scenery In all directions, and so little bit of community areas. In Grand County there Is less than 4 percent private land, and that doesnt leave you a lot of places to go. We already have many laws In place to manage the existing land property. To develop a new designation with new and more restrictive laws Is not going to resolve the enforcement problem. Id rather see It solved on the local level. I think we have to think cautiously, or we can really get ourselves strung up here. Id It to of control see hate get far away from home. I think Its wonderful that the environmental movement Is organized to the point It Is. But I am now suddenly more concerned about the lack of organization and thrust from the economic development side, because I can see most of the laws coming down now are to protect the environment, not to protect the economy. I see It swinging Just a little bit out of balance. One of the answers Is for the city and county planning commissions to get things In place. They cant move too fast, but they need to get It In place so we do have controls. You dont wait to see what people are going to do, you say, these are the areas we want to develop. Zephyr: On planning, the county and city look at It differently. The city Is looking a at sign ordinance, beautification rules, and some discussion of a building height ordinance. The county has a much more libertarian view of allowing anything a person wants on their land. Bette: The majority of the population Is In Moab, and most development and planning has been centered there. The county In the past has not been geared too much In that direction. Theyre needed to get geared that way because things are branching out The county has been looking at It as, there Is so little to develop, If we get too restrictive, what are people going to do? One of the arguments Is over an RV park along the Colorado River. You can do one that Is absolutely atrocious, or you can do one that blends In with nature, that you hardly see. No matter how you look at It, RVs are a thing of the If future, we're going to be a tourist destination. People with RVs don't all want to park In town. They get RVs so they can get out Into nature. The key Is to get some restrictive covenants where we put guidelines on how you do tt. Zephyr: You have spoken In favor of some planning restrictions, saving they are good for development What do you mean? Bette: Almost everybody who comes into my office, they ask If there covenants or ordinances to control how things are built In almost every case, they say, If Im going to Invest my money here, I want to be sure of those types of protection. Zephyr: You set up a committee to examine what types of businesses are needed here. But Its the same thing that has been done for years. You people together, they throw out the same Ideas people have been talking about for 10 years. Whv do tt? Bette: For one thing, Its to reassure that you are going In the right drectlon. In this case, we have new people who havent been Involved In the past, and we figured that would flush out some new Ideas. We've recruited people from other parts of the country, and they have been through It They can see some of the pitfalls. One of the problems Is affordable housing. Afoar Is that If you take off and develop too fast, the people who live here might not be able to afford to stay here. So we need to start pro-develop- ot HEY STILES! Were talkin SUMMER at S.U.C.C.E. Come by and tell us what FUN stuff youd like us to do for YOU this summer. You MUST have SOME good ideas! On that subject - things that are coming up were also in the process RIGHT NOW of planning our programs and courses THROUGH SEPTEMBER of 1992. All youve got to do to include yourself in our plans is ASK! SUGGEST! HINT! LEAN OUR WAY SLIGHTLY? I know youre shy, so its OK if you just call us at 259-743- 2. The Utah State University Center in Moab |
