Former Nixon PD building to get new life as museum site

The former Nixon Police Department at 106 W. Third St. will get new life as a potential museum site after the Nixon City Council signed a 10-year lease with the Rancho/Nixon Historic Association Inc. on Monday, March 14.

Donald Hoffman and Pablo Aguirre represent the Rancho/Nixon Historic Association and are seeking to turn the building into a museum chronicling the history of Nixon and its predecessor, the Rancho Community, which existed about a mile or so north of present-day Nixon until its post office closed in 1911.

City Secretary Deborah Bustamente told the Inquirer she has located historical documents from the city dating back as far as 1923 that could be placed into the care of the association for preservation and use in demonstrating what life was like for Nixon residents nearly a century ago.

There will be some need for renovations at the old police department, including removing some interior walls and creating another exit door, but the cost for renovating the building has not been fully discussed yet.

Due to the involvement of a city-owned building, Mayor Dorothy Riojas asked that a research committee of two aldermen be formed to work with Hoffman on the new museum and both Rene Amaya and Justin La Fleur volunteered to be on the committee.

Councilmembers also discussed the possible renovation of the former Nixon City Jail, which has not been in use for a long time, Bustamente said. The jail is located next close to the city water tower behind NAPA Auto Parts.

“The last time it was used that I can remember was when municipal judge Darryl Becker (who is also the Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace) was a DPS trooper and would use it to hold people he had arrested until his shift was nearly over so he could then transport them to the Gonzales County Jail,” Bustamente said.

Action on the former jail was tabled until next month, Bustamente said.

The council also approved a peddlers permit for Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Romero to open a mobile car service and tire shop to operate in the Nixon city limits. The business may be open between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. and cannot get called out after that time, Bustamente said.

Council members renewed and signed a new deposit contract with their depository, Third Coast Bank, and also signed a contract between the city of Nixon, the Nixon Fire Department and the Gonzales County Emergency Service District No. 2.

The council also discussed the possibility of planting trees on the open lot recently acquired by the city adjacent to City Hall. Former mayor Gladyne Finch has said she would be willing to donate two red oaks to be planted on the lot. Mayor Riojas and City Manager Harold Rice will work to determine the best placement of any donated trees.

A pair of city employees (Olalde and Garza Jr.) were recognized for completing class hours towards a water system operator license and the city discussed the ongoing work that needs to be completed at the new Nixon City Hall. Rice also spoke about the new H20 Analytics system for water meters that should make reading meters more efficient for both the city and its customers.