“They didn’t perform, we want our money back”
by Bill Knowles
TRINIDAD — The Cougar Canyon development took a hit Tuesday evening when, during a regular meeting, the Trinidad City Council, voted 7-0 to call in a performance bond for the residential part of the unfinished development.
A performance bond is required by the city as part of the planning process. It calls for real estate developers to put up the bond to cover the city’s cost of the infrastructure. It is used to cover the city’s cost in case the development doesn’t get finished.
The bond covers the golf course, clubhouse and motel, making the bond worth about $3 million to $4 million to complete the infrastructure for that area. Developers did do some of the work however, installing utilities, curb, gutter, and sidewalks to a portion of the development. One area has only two homes but most don’t have any utilities. The City Public Works Director Mike Valentine told city council members at a workshop that using the developers figures about $3.5 million in work still needs to be done.
There are 147 platted lots at the development but the rest of the residential area has never been platted.
“We asked them to perform, they didn’t perform. We want our money back,” Mayor Joe Reorda said after the vote was taken.
In other business, the council passed on a 6-1 vote an emergency ordinance allowing for the adoption of the current marijuana map in its current definition in order to preserve the historic downtown district. They also voted 6-1 on an ordinance calling for the adoption of the current marijuana map. The emergency ordinance is only good for 31 days, that’s why the first reading of a regular ordinance was passed.
The only dissenting vote was cast by council member Liz Torres. “I just don’t really see the point to basing everything around one school. There are marijuana businesses at every entrance to the city. So I’m thinking, why block out the center? Does it really matter, probably not.”
Another emergency ordinance prohibiting the licensing of medical, retail and another marijuana facilities in the Cougar Canyon development site where the hotel should be along with a regular ordinance stating the same thing was passed on a 7-0 vote. A hearing date for consideration of the ordinance was set for Aug. 4.
The Kiwanis Club received a special permit for alcohol to be served at the Wild Turkey Federation banquet on Aug. 1.
The Trinidad-Las Animas County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce also received a special permit for alcohol to be served at their fundraiser dance on Aug. 8.
Stephen Hamer addressed the city council when they took comments from the audience. He noted that he had asked the city for an evacuation plan in case of wildfire. “I am disappointed. It’s been a year and nothing. I’ve been told that it’s being worked on but nothing yet,” Hamer said.
The council put the evacuation plan on agenda for a workshop.
