Tourism board lets Green River billboard contract lapse, will reallocate $6,630

The Emery County Travel Bureau voted to let its annual contract for a Yesco billboard on Main Street in Green River lapse rather than renew the existing artwork featuring John Wesley Powell. Staff told the board the annual renewal cost is $6,630 and that the board rents the advertising space from the billboard company, which controls the structure and ultimately what appears on it.

Staff described the billboard as a beautification piece meant to be better than an empty board, but several members questioned whether it effectively attracts new visitors or provides a measurable return. One board member observed, “Where there's no return on, we don't have a substantial return on that,” and moved to let the contract die. The motion passed with no recorded opposition.

Staff noted that if the bureau declines to renew and another renter pays for the board, the artwork could be changed by the new tenant; if no replacement is found immediately, the company may leave the board blank until a new contract is signed. The board asked staff to explore alternative billboard locations and other marketing approaches for those funds.