Green River Council welcomes new member

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An interview Chris Lezama of Epicenter conducted with newly-sworn-in councilmember Travis Bacon. Bacon is no stranger to civic life. A native son of Green River, former U.S. Border Patrol agent, member of eight local community organizations, and manager at the River Terrace Inn, Bacon spends much of his time thinking about how to improve his hometown.
Bacon said, “One of the reasons I ran was to examine and potentially lower the property tax. Not too long ago, we didn’t have a property tax in the city at all. It has generated a lot of revenue that the city needs, but I think the tax has gotten too high. Additionally, this year, our property taxes at the River Terrace were a lot lower than the year previous and I don’t know why. I’d like to be more well-versed in the property tax, know how it works, and know why it is so dramatically different from year to year.
“Economic development is big for me, and it is the focus on almost every committee or board that I’m on. The Emery County Travel Board, Green River Improvement Team, and Trails Committee have an economic development component to them and are all interrelated. We need to embrace and foster more travel and tourism and extend our season. I’ll do everything I can to try to bring in new business and foster existing businesses, strengthening what we have with an eye for the future.
The second tenant of my campaign was active engagement. I’m not going to be the type of city councilman that just goes to council. I think it’s a more involved job. You have to have your finger on the pulse of the community, which is a big reason why I got involved with all the committees I’m on. You have to stay actively engaged to know the possibilities on the horizon and what we can do right now.
“A current challenge is that our EMS system is in shambles. It’s ridiculous to call 911 and not have an ambulance. Maybe changing this entails the city taking it over with support from the county. When I was a kid, the EMS system was very good and you had a lot of really dedicated EMTs. Current staff are doing a great job, but the system is in a bad way. I’ve heard a lot about this issue from citizens and looked into it quite a bit myself; it’s something that needs to be remedied.
Another challenge is that we’re losing a lot of good people, pillars in the community, like the teachers who have left the past few years. It’s not a good thing. We need to have well-paying jobs that allow people to stay and for young families to come in. We have to remain economically viable and that requires us bringing in industry. We need to utilize what we have, but we have to diversify.
“The industrial park has a lot of potential. We need to do whatever we can to foster that. We don’t know if that takes the form of tax incentives or planning and zoning assistance, but we need to do what we can to help them get here. The trails system is going to be a good thing for the community; I think people are looking for alternatives to Moab, and Green River is well positioned to be that alternative.
“Green River needs to continue to support community programs like PACT, CHEER, and soccer. And of course, the answer comes back to economic development: there needs to be jobs that allow kids to stay or allow kids to go to college and come back. I’d like to touch base with Green River’s seniors so they can tell me what we can do to make it a better place to live for them. Green River’s population is aging, and seniors are a vital part and pillars of the community,” said Bacon.
Lezma asked Bacon about his time away from Green River, “After graduating from Green River High School, you spent some significant time living in different states, traveling the world. When you are away from Green River, what’s the one thing you miss about the town most?” asked Lezma.
Bacon said, “I lived in Palm Springs, and that’s a resort mecca; it’s a really a great place, but I wouldn’t go back for anything. Here, the people are incredible. They look out for each other, have genuine concern for one another. In a place like Palm Springs, you can’t stop in the middle of the road and talk to someone like you do here. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s an overall feeling. Green River is really relaxed and has a calmer pace of life than anywhere I’ve been. I really appreciate that.”