Sagging portable building prompts Wixon Valley to part with books

The weight of donated books double- and triple-stacked inside the Wixon Valley City Hall has forced council members to make a tough decision: On Saturday, they will be giving them all away.

"We really are reluctant to do it," said Mayor James Soefje as he stood among boxes of books lining the walls. "It's very visually obvious something's not right here."

The portable building in east Brazos County has begun to sag from the weight of books. The floor of the room has a three-inch dip from the wall to the center of the room.

Wixon Valley doesn't collect property taxes and is funded through a sales tax, said Soefje, whose been mayor for a year.

Elected officials looked into what it would cost to buy a new building for either a city hall or a library, but the cost was far too steep for the town of 283 people.

"With this being all the funds we have, we need this building to last," he said.

Books will be available for pick up from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at 9500 Texas 21 East. The volumes cover a wide selection of topics.

Soefje said the council has not decided what it will do with books left over from Saturday's giveaway, but is considering donating them to a library or service organization.

The Margaret Jopp Ramby Library opened in 2004 and was named for the town's city secretary, who donated the two acres of land for the venue. The library's always operated on an "honor system," Soefje said.

"Hopefully, we can find the books a new home where they can be of use," he said.

If you go

City of Wixon Valley book giveaway

8 a.m. to noon Saturday at City Hall, 9500 Texas 21 East.