Nixon appoints Rogers mayor pro tem, approves Community Center rental changes

Nixon City Council members appointed Jackie Rogers as their new mayor pro tem and made revisions to the rental agreement for the Nixon Community Center during a regular meeting Monday, June 16.

Council members also discussed the City of Nixon Sports Field Contract for the 2025-26 season and amendments to the animal control ordinance and voted to give direction on those matters to City Attorney Eddie Escobar.

Rogers, who was elected to the council in 2024, was the only person nominated for the position and was approved by a 4-0 vote as he abstained from voting for himself.

In a moment of levity, Mayor Ellie  Dominguez jokingly told Rogers to “be quiet” immediately upon asking for discussion about his nomination — which elicited laughter from the rest of the council as well as city staff and citizens present.

“No, he makes a good mayor pro tem,” Dominguez said. “I really appreciate it. Congratulations, sir!”

City Secretary Tanya Torres introduced changes to the Community Center rental agreement, which included adding an extra hour for cleanup with events on Friday and Saturday nights having an ending time of 11:59 p.m. If cleanup extends past 2 a.m. on those nights, there is an additional $75 per hour charge applied.

Instead of having a tiered rate for in-town, in-county and out-of-county renters, the new rental rate is $1,250 per weekend or $450 per weekend day (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) with an upcharge of $50 more (total $500) if alcohol is being served. Weekday rental rate is $200 per day. The deposit is a flat $250 fee.

“(Previously) there were different prices for different residents, like outside of Nixon, Gonzales County, outside of the county — they were all different rates,” Torres said. “This is just one flat rate, straight across the board. If you live in Smiley, you can rent it. If you live in Gonzales, you could rent it. You live in Seguin, you could rent it — all for that flat rate.

“It was getting a little confusing and we had people calling from class reunions saying, ‘Well, we don’t live there anymore, but I graduated there in 1955.’ I think if we do it as one rate straight across the board, it’s a lot easier.”

If alcohol is being served, then security must be provided through an outside agreement with the Nixon Police Department with a charge of $50 per hour per officer supplied, Nixon Police Chief Miguel Cantu added.

Torres said nonprofits would be allowed to rent the center free for two days per year. After the second day of rental, the charge will be $100 per use. She said nonprofits still can use the center for no charge if it is just a few hours and it is available — for example, a civic club wanting to hold a monthly meeting for an hour or two.

City Administrator Darryl Becker added Nixon residents who wish to use the center following a funeral for a bereavement gathering can continue to do so at no charge as a service to residents.

Torres said the city has also run into a problem where the center has not been cleaned properly, forcing city staff to complete the job. She asked for and received from council the discretion to withhold a portion of the deposit if the center is not returned to its original cleaned condition after use.

Council members voted unanimously to approve the amended rental agreement.

Discussion on the sports fields centered around reserving the use of the fields and control of the lighting system, which has sometimes been found left on afters. Proposed changes were brought up and will be given to Escobar to draft and then presented to organizations like Little League, which rent the fields from the city, for review, Becker said.

Code Enforcement Officer Don Watt discussed needed changes to the animal ordinance with council members about licensing for animals as well as charges for impoundment and dealing with nuisance animals. Necessary changes will be sent to Escobar to draft amendments that will be approved at a later meeting.