Trinidad council approves Pilot travel center, advances workforce housing

Two back-to-back meetings at Trinidad City Hall brought a ceremonial change in leadership and decisive votes on development and housing that will affect the city’s budget, infrastructure and economic footprint.

Outgoing council members used an early meeting to reflect on accomplishments from their terms, citing passage of a balanced budget and efforts to bridge differing viewpoints. After adjournment, Las Animas County District Court Judge Pierce Fowler administered oaths of office to Mayor Cy Michaels and new council members Tim Peters, Daniel Ruscetti and Carmela Vanore, each pledging to uphold the U.S. and Colorado Constitutions, Trinidad’s home rule charter and local ordinances. Manny Trujillo was named mayor pro tem and Pamela Nelson was reappointed and sworn in as municipal judge. Mayor Michaels took seats on the South Central Council of Governments Board and the Colorado Municipal League Policy Committee, with City Manager Tara Marshall named alternate. Trujillo will serve as a voting member of the South Central Transportation Planning Regional Commission, again with Marshall as alternate. Mayor Michaels also issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 6, 2026, as Youth Awareness Day.

On land-use and development, the council approved the sale of Parcel D in Industrial Park Filing One to Pilot Travel Centers LLC for $300,000. The 17-acre parcel, zoned community commercial, is slated for a major travel center with trucker amenities and a quick-service restaurant. City officials project the project will create jobs and generate significant sales tax revenue. Pilot representatives said construction could begin later this year following a three-month due diligence period for permitting and environmental review, despite earlier projections that aimed for a 2027 opening. Staff addressed concerns about competition with the existing Love’s Travel Stop by explaining that large travel centers often serve dedicated trucking customers through discount and loyalty programs, allowing multiple operators to coexist along I-25.

The council also finalized an amended and restated economic development incentives and workforce housing agreement for the Holy Trinity project, concluding roughly two years of planning. The plan converts the vacant Holy Trinity School into more than 40 affordable workforce housing units. The city will cover utility and infrastructure upgrades — water, gas, electrical, sewer and storm sewer extensions — and commit $1.2 million for major equipment purchases such as cooling towers and electrical panels. The agreement preserves an initial $270,000 Housing Now allocation and adds milestone-based funding draws so city disbursements occur only after benchmarks, including issuance of building permits. Utility improvements on Church Street are already under way and will extend service into the property.

Looking ahead, the incoming council allocated $15,000 in lodging tax funds to market and stage events for Trinidad’s 150th incorporation anniversary, centered Feb. 1, 2026, at Space to Create and extending through 2026 with branded events, collector items and a free drone laser show as part of the statewide celebration. City staff also reported progress on local projects such as pickleball court lighting set for Jan. 26 and concrete work to improve ADA accessibility.

For residents, the decisions signal an immediate focus on growth that prioritizes infrastructure capacity and milestone‑driven funding protections for public money. Permit reviews and environmental checks will determine the timing of Pilot’s construction, while utility work on Church Street will shape when Holy Trinity housing moves from plan to occupancy. The new council’s appointments and anniversary plans set the administrative and civic calendar for the year ahead.