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District 5 town hall to cover water, transportation, growth
Georgetown residents, particularly those living in City Council District 5, are encouraged to come to a town hall hosted by Mayor Pro Tem and District 5 Council Member Kevin Pitts.
“Effectively communicating with constituents is one of my goals. I regularly post on Facebook from my City Council page but town halls allow for civil dialogue about the topics citizens care about most,” Pitts said.
The town hall will start at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 30, in the Heritage Oaks Community Center, 4611 Verde Vista.
Residents will learn more about water demand, transportation, growth and development, and more, and will be able to ask questions after the presentation.
More information is available on Pitts’ Facebook page.
I-35 mainlanes and Williams Drive bridge overnight closures
The Texas Department of Transportation will close the northbound and southbound I-35 mainlanes to set beams on the reconstructed Williams Drive bridge.
On Wednesday, March 8, and Thursday, March 9, the northbound and southbound I-35 mainlanes will close to traffic between Lakeway Drive and Hwy. 29, at 9 p.m. nightly. Northbound I-35 traffic will detour at the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the mainlanes north of Northwest Boulevard. Southbound I-35 traffic will use the Williams Drive exit (262) and re-enter the mainlanes at the Hwy. 29 entrance ramp.
The Williams Drive bridge will also be closed during this time. Eastbound traffic will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road and use the U-turn at Hwy. 29 to access Williams Drive. Westbound traffic will detour to the northbound I-35 frontage road before turning left at the signalized intersection at Lakeway Drive to access Williams Drive. (See attached detour map.)
All lanes will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m. each morning, weather permitting.
Road signs will be placed to alert drivers of the upcoming closures. TxDOT asks the public to be patient and remain aware when driving through the work zone. To learn more about this project, visit My35Construction.org.
Jamestown Revival to headline Red Poppy Festival
This year the City of Georgetown celebrates the Red Poppy Festival with Saturday night headliner Jamestown Revival. This Southern and Garfunkel group delivers skillful songwriting and flawless harmony. Jamestown Revival’s singles include “California,” “Young Man,” “Revival,” “Midnight Hour,” and “Harder Way.”This signature festival on the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas is April 28-30 with live music, entertainment, family fun, food, and more than 100 artisan vendors.
The Friday night concert features Dysfunkshun Junkshun. Other festival highlights include the Red Poppy Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, the Car Show at 11 a.m. on Saturday and the Red Poppy Pet Parade at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The City will also be celebrating its 175th anniversary during the festival at the South Main Arts District, including family activities and opportunities for the public to give feedback on several City initiatives.
The official 2023 Red Poppy Festival poster features the winning art, “Golden Hour Poppies” by Erin Plummer, who is a graphic designer and Georgetown resident. The posters will be on sale for $5 starting April 3 at the Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St.
For all the details, go to RedPoppyFestival.com.
City facility closures Feb. 20 for Presidents’ Day
City of Georgetown offices and facilities will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, for Presidents’ Day. There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection.
City offices closed Feb. 20
The City offices and facilities closed Feb. 20 for Presidents’ Day include the following:
- Animal Shelter, 110 Walden Drive
- Art Center, 816 S. Main St.
- City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
- Council and Courts Building (including Municipal Court), 510 W. Ninth St.
- Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.
- Grace Heritage Center, 817 S. Main St.
- Parks and Recreation Administration, 1101 N. College St.
- Planning Department, 809 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
- Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
- Public Safety Operations and Training Center, Police Records, and Fire Support Services offices, 3500 D.B. Wood Road
- Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.
- Tennis Center, 400 Serenada Drive
- Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St.
Facilities open
- Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive
- Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
GoGeo paratransit bus service
There will not be service Monday, Feb. 20.
Recycling and solid waste
There will be regular recycling and solid waste collection for City of Georgetown customers on Monday, Feb. 20. Please place carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day. For questions, call Texas Disposal Systems at 512-930-1715.
Georgetown Arts and Culture Board awards grants for 2023 Round I
The Georgetown Arts and Culture Board approved $7,000 in grants in January to local arts and culture organizations to help with funding local arts and culture programming that includes music performances and history exhibitions in Georgetown.
The funding is for events in Georgetown taking place between April 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2023.
Grant recipients include:
| Project or event name | Grant amount |
| Texas Bach Festival for the 2023 Texas Bach Festival | $5,000 |
| The Williamson Museum for the Oral History Project for 175 Years of Williamson County: Still Making History | $2,000 |
The next grant cycle will accept proposals June 1-30, 2023, for events and programs occurring Oct. 1, 2023-March 31, 2024.
The Georgetown Arts and Culture grants help the Arts and Culture Board fulfill bylaw requirements, which include recognizing and encouraging groups and organizations that enrich Georgetown life by bringing cultural and artistic values and artifacts to the City. Members of the Arts and Culture Board believe a vibrant arts community and cultural offerings are good for the quality of life for residents, will attract visitors, and will assist Georgetown in becoming a nationally recognized arts destination by 2030. The grant program helps develop and strengthen our local arts community by contributing funding to arts and culture programming that enhances our local community.
For more information about the Georgetown Arts & Culture grants, visit arts.georgetown.org.
Candidate filing period starts for Mayor and Districts 2, 6
The first day to file for a place on the ballot for candidates who wish to run for Mayor or the District 2 or 6 seats on the Georgetown City Council, is Wednesday, Jan. 18. The filing deadline is Friday, Feb. 17.
Completed applications for candidacy should be submitted at City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St. To see maps of council districts, go to maps.georgetown.org.
Georgetown City Council members serve three-year terms representing one of seven, single-member districts. The mayor also serves a three-year term. Candidates for mayor or City Council must be at least 21 years of age on the first day of the term of office, a citizen, and a qualified voter of the State of Texas and the City of Georgetown. Candidates for mayor must be a resident of Georgetown for a period of 12 months preceding election day. Candidates for council district seats must be a resident of the council district the member would be representing for a period of 12 months preceding election day.
The last day to register to vote for the May election is April 6.
Early in-person voting is April 24-May 2. Election day is May 6. Early voting and Election day polling places, dates, and times will be listed at wilco.org/elections.
For details about the city election, go to government.georgetown.org/city-secretary/elections.
New pet for Christmas? Here’s what you need to know
Did Santa bring you a new puppy or kitten for Christmas? Here are some important things to remember when caring for your new pet.
Welcome your pet with love and patience: Give your friend time to acclimate to the new environment, including new smells, sights, and sounds. Introduce them to new experiences slowly and be patient as they learn the new routine. Consider working with a trainer to address behaviors before they become a problem.
Leash your pet: Always leash your pet in public. It is against City ordinances for dogs to be at large in the city limits, and for cats that have not been altered or vaccinated to be at large. It is also against City ordinances to chain or tether your dog unless a person is holding the restraint.
License your pet: All dogs and cats that live within the city limits are required to have an annual city license. The City’s pet license requirement helps keep rabies under control by enforcing the rabies vaccination requirements. The cost of a license is $5 for animals that are spayed or neutered or $20 for unaltered animals. For residents age 65 and older, the license is free if the pet is spayed or neutered. Free licenses are limited to one per person. Licenses may be obtained online, by phone, email, mail, or at the shelter. Visit pets.georgetown.org/licensing-your-pets for more information.
Take care of your pet: You may not allow an animal to damage private property other than the owner’s property. Pick up after your pet by immediately removing any waste on public or private property and properly disposing of it. Free-roaming cats that cause a nuisance while off their owner’s property can be impounded and their owner can be fined.
Establish a relationship with a veterinarian: Vets are in high demand these days. Don’t wait until you have an emergency to take your pet to a vet. If your pet hasn’t been spayed or neutered, there are low-cost options out there if you are able to wait. Pro tip: if you adopt from a shelter, the animal will already be spayed, neutered and vaccinated.
Learn more about Georgetown’s animal-related ordinances at pets.georgetown.org/overview/ordinances.
Here are some additional tips to consider this New Year to ensure pets are safe:
- When making an emergency kit for your family, consider your pet’s needs.
- Take a current photo of you and your pet together in case you get separated during a disaster.
- Keep your pet’s microchip registration info up to date.
- Put your name and contact information on your pet’s ID tag.
Learn more at ready.gov/pets.
About the Georgetown Animal Shelter
The City of Georgetown Animal Shelter is located at 110 W.L. Walden Drive. The shelter is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday and Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. The shelter offers animal control and adoption services, as well as various programs throughout the year, including low-cost immunization and sterilization clinics, citywide dog and cat licensing, and adoption events. For more information, visit pets.georgetown.org.
Recycling Christmas trees and boxes
City of Georgetown residents are encouraged to recycle Christmas trees, boxes, and wrapping paper to reduce material going to the landfill. If you recycle your tree, please remove the tree stand and any garland, ornaments, or lights. Artificial trees cannot be recycled.
Curbside pick-up: Texas Disposal Systems customers in the city limits of Georgetown can put Christmas trees on the curb for collection on your regular yard trimmings pickup day. Trees seven feet in length or less can be placed at the curb uncut. Longer trees should be cut into sections. Artificial trees are not accepted.
Collection day look-up: For City of Georgetown residents, your yard trimmings collection day is on your first recycling day of the month. Georgetown solid waste and recycling customers can check their collection days, sign up for text or email reminders, and find out how to sort your solid waste and recycling on Texas Disposal Systems’ Waste Wizard at texasdisposal.com/waste-wizard. The holidays will not affect solid waste and recycling pickups, because Christmas Day and New Year’s Day both fall on a Sunday. For more information, visit bit.ly/2022holidayclosures.
Boxes and wrapping paper: Cardboard boxes and wrapping paper are recyclable. If they won’t fit in your recycling cart, you can put wrapping paper and boxes in a larger box and set it next to your recycling cart. Ribbons and bows are not recyclable.
Cellophane wrap and plastic bags are recyclable if they are placed in a yellow bag-the-bag, tied, and placed inside the recycling cart. Bag-the-bag recycling bags are available for pick up at the following locations:
- Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.
- Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
- Georgetown Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.
- Sun City Social Center monitors desk, 2 Texas Drive
- Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Road
Note that extra plastic bags next to your trash cart are not permitted without a bag tag. Go to recycle.georgetown.org for a complete list of recyclables.
Christmas tree drop-off: Christmas trees will be accepted at the City of Georgetown Transfer Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, from Dec. 26-Jan. 31 at no charge. Normal fees apply to other items. Recycled Christmas trees are turned into mulch, which is available year-round, free-of-charge to City residents. Artificial trees are not accepted.
Transfer Station: Normal hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The Collection Station will close at noon Dec. 24. For details, contact Texas Disposal Systems at 512-930-1715.
The City of Georgetown also offers holiday string light recycling through Jan. 31 at drop-off locations throughout Georgetown. For more information, visit bit.ly/stringlightrecycling.
City to host household hazardous waste event Jan. 18
The City will host a free household hazardous waste collection event from 3-5 p.m. Jan. 18, 2023, at the old show barn site in San Gabriel Park, 425 E. Morrow St.
The event will be available for up to 400 Georgetown solid waste customers who have solid waste service through Texas Disposal Systems. Customers must contact Customer Care at 512-930-3640 or customercare@georgetown.org to have their name placed on a list. Please include your name, address, and utility account number when emailing customer care. Customers must have their name on the list to participate.
Residents must remain in their vehicles during the no-contact collection. Staff will unload items from the back seat or trunk of the vehicle.
All items to be dropped off must be in their marked original containers. Commercial disposal and trailers are not allowed.
Acceptable items include:
- Batteries (household, hearing aids, cell phone, etc.)
- Automobile batteries
- Pool and spa chemicals
- Used oil/oil filters (up to five gallons per vehicle)
- Transmission fluid
- Light bulbs (including regular, compact, and four-foot fluorescent)
- Grease
- Thermometers
- Over-the-counter, residential lawn and garden chemicals
- Aerosols
- Household cleaners and disinfectants marked caution, warning, or poison
- Art and hobby chemicals
- Paint (up to 10 gallons per vehicle)
- Over the counter one-pound disposal propane bottles
- Gasoline (up to five gallons per vehicle)
Unacceptable items include:
- Unmarked containers or unknown chemicals
- Construction, commercial, or landscape waste
- Professional, concentrated chemicals that require a professional license to mix
- Medications or pharmaceuticals
- Oxygen tanks
- Electronics
- Tires
- Explosives (including ammunition and fireworks)
- Radioactive materials
- Biological materials
For more information about the City’s solid waste and recycling services, visit recycle.georgetown.org.
Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 17
The 22nd annual pancake Breakfast with Santa event is Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Community Center, 445 E. Morrow St. in San Gabriel Park. Georgetown firefighters will be making pancakes and sausage served with juice and coffee. The event is 7:30 to 11 a.m.
At the event, children can visit with firefighters, and have a free picture taken with Santa.
Tickets are $6 per person and can be purchased at the door or in advance from Sun City Rotary Club members or at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B. Wood Road. Children age 12 and younger are free with a paid adult.
Breakfast with Santa is sponsored by the Georgetown Fire Department, Sun City Rotary Club, and Georgetown ISD. Proceeds benefit children and families in need in Georgetown during the holidays.
Tax-deductible donations are accepted to help fund Breakfast with Santa. Checks should be made out to “Chisholm Trail Communities Foundation” with “Sun City Rotary – BWS” on the memo line. Mail the donation check to Chisholm Trail Communities Foundation, 116 W. Eighth St., Ste. 203, Georgetown, TX, 78626.
For details, contact the Georgetown Fire Department at 512-930-3473.
