by Bill Knowles
TRINIDAD — Phil Rico, mayor of the City of Trinidad, delivered the State of the City speech to a packed Pioneer Room on the campus of Trinidad State Junior College Monday evening. An estimate put the number of people present at around 75.
The speech lasted an hour, with another half-hour for questions, comments, and answers taken from the crowd.
Rico said the future is full of promise for Trinidad, and added that the city “…would have to make critical decisions, weigh its options, and embrace understanding that without risk there is little reward, without change there’s little chance of progress, and without growth the momentum we are enjoying will be lost.”
Rico noted that risk is necessary while embracing progress to meet the needs of the citizens of Trinidad and still hold onto the history and heritage of the city.
Looking at the accomplishments of 2017, the mayor started with the increase in marijuana tax revenues and how the city manages the funds.
The tax receipts for the marijuana tax revenues totaled $2.865 million, with expenditures posted at $2.5 million. The list of items the tax revenue was spent on were one-time expenditures. A new camera system for security around town was purchased. The DA’s office received a one-time infusion of funds totaling $50,000. The Trinidad Urban Renewal Agency was given $100,000 in seed money. When all the funds from the marijuana tax revenues had been dispersed, the remainder of the funds, around $300,000, was placed in a reserve account.
Trinidad is embarking on a massive infrastructure project to repair, replace, or upgrade its water and sewer lines. Most of the lines are between 50-100 years old. As the work on scoping the sewer lines has begun on Main Street, the city is already encountering difficulties.
As they are pulling the camera back to retrieve it, the crews are watching, on a video feed from the camera, the sewer lines collapsing.
The water line project should begin this spring, starting on High Street and going east on First Street to Oak.
Another project the city faces is the replacement of a sewage transmission line from Stonewall to the City’s wastewater treatment plant. The cost is estimated to be between $12 million to $15 million.
The city is also dedicating $15 million to a three-year plan in an effort to come into compliance with the American with Disabilities Act.
Trinidad is also facing other challenges. The opioid addiction that is epidemic in the city is a major challenge and it’s growing. The homeless and transient problem is a constant problem as the city attempts to grow its tourism package.
The event ended around 8 pm.
