Nixon checks for housing code compliance

Months after the ban on mobile homes in the City of Nixon, Nixon City Council continues to check code appliance for substandard homes. Any existing mobile homes in place prior to the ban that was set in the May City Council meeting are allowed, so long as the home is up to code compliance.

One house, that was not a mobile home, was brought into examination for the abatement of the home at the July 18 City Council meeting. The house, located on the 200 block of West 6th Street, was confirmed by the code enforcement officer in Nixon at the meeting to be abandoned, dilapidated and on the verge of collapsing, as well as having faulty wiring.

Code Enforcement Officer Jason Criollo declined to comment on his process outside of the meeting, directing comments to the City Manager, who then directed further comments to City Attorney Eddie Escobar.

“The City of Nixon wants to ensure that the health and safety of its citizens is addressed,” Escobar said. “One of the ways to do this is by assessing current housing structures and abating abandoned and dilapidated structures. The City is striving to make things better and safer.”

City officials will notify individuals who are not in code appliance, allowing them 30 days to abate the situation. The home in question at the council meeting has been abandoned for decades, according to the city. However, the last known homeowners were confirmed to have been given notification of the abatement of the property. 

“We informed the property owner and property taxpayer that they would be scheduled for a hearing based on the evidence and everything that I found for this property being a threat and danger to the City of Nixon and safety of nearby citizens,” Criollo said specifically at the Council meeting. “We received a confirmation that they received the certified letter.”

The City of Nixon confirmed that these types of home structures can be a harbor for criminal activity.

“These types of homes are commonly broken into by criminals for the use or distribution of drugs and other criminal activity,” Escobar said. “In addition, they serve as an attractive nuisance to children who often want to explore. Due to these structures not being structurally sound, it can be extremely dangerous to children entering these structures. The City of Nixon wants to avoid even the possibility of a child being harmed.”

The May ban on mobile homes was put in place to increase the city of Nixon’s property values, according to officials at the time of the ban. The city wants people to be aware that any home not up to code is up for examination, after the May ban on mobile homes.

“Just because a home is a mobile home, does not mean that the structure is not up to code as adapted by the City of Nixon. Any noncompliant home, mobile or otherwise, will be reviewed for non-compliance,” Escobar said. “This is not a mobile home issue, it’s a health and safety issue.”

City Council officially changed their meeting times to 5 p.m. for any future meetings. Citizens can make comments on this, or any issue in the City of Nixon, at council meetings.

Readers with any concerns about substandard homes in the City of Nixon can email the Gonzales Inquirer at publisher@gonzalesinquirer.com to share their comments.