That's the word from managers with the state's Schools and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), who met in late June to give a "heads-up" to Moab city and Grand County officials.

They confirmed Wal-Mart is looking for 15 acres to 17 acres and urged officials to "get ahead of the curve" and identify properties that might be acceptable for big-box retail development, according to Ric McBrier, assistant director for SITLA's development group.

He said the agency "is not the main player here" and is "not negotiating to sell land to Wal-Mart or any other large-scale retailer."

"It's in the community's interest to gauge where they want large retail before large retail establishes itself," McBrier said.

"Once these people have you on their radar, it's only a matter of time before they decide where to put their store."

Karianne Fallow, a spokeswoman in Wal-Mart's Boise office, said Monday that Wal-Mart is "always looking at opportunities to purchase land for future sites."

"Moab is a place we'll continue to look at, but we don't have any plans to build a store there at this time," she said.

Regardless of whether any mega-retailer plans to build in the area soon, City Manager Donna Metzler promised Moab will take a proactive approach to large-scale retail development.

Moab is completing an analysis to identify suitable properties within city limits or adjacent to the city, and officials are developing a plan for dealing with large-scale retail development.

She said there are few properties in the area that meet Wal-Mart's 15- to 17-acre requirement.

City and county officials say that if Wal-Mart does build, the store should be within Moab city limits so the city can benefit from sales-tax revenues.

Elected officials recently discussed the effect Wal-Mart could have on local businesses, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, bookstores and music retailers, Metzler said.

"Some businesses will have to rethink the way they do business. They can do things to draw customers to their stores."

In recent years, Wal-Mart has come under fire from critics who say the giant retailer destroys small businesses that cannot compete with the giant's low prices.

"It's an issue that's going to be contentious and involved," said Metzler, who added that if Wal-Mart's presence became inevitable, the city would ask for certain conditions.

For example, Metzler said Moab would ask Wal-Mart or any other large-scale retailer to make energy efficiency a priority.

"We're looking at the green side of things," Metzler said. "If we're going to have a Wal-Mart, we want it to be as responsible to the community and the environment as possible."

City and county officials worry that if Grand County and Moab refuse to allow big-box retail developments, Wal-Mart and others would turn to neighboring San Juan County. This, officials fear, would burden Moab with all the negative effects and none of the positives.

"San Juan is so aggressive about pursuing these things, I wouldn't be surprised if they offered free land," County Councilman Rex Tanner said. "They're going to pit Grand County against San Juan County to see who will give them the best bargain. It's about the money."

San Juan County is eager for a shot at luring the retailer.

"We are interested in having SITLA entertain further discussions, if they have any [with Wal-Mart], of locating a Wal-Mart . . . near the border of Moab," said Lynn Stevens, chairman of the San Juan County Commission.

lchurch@citlink.net