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Tweetalong with Animal Control Supervisor Angela Jones
This Animal Control Officers Appreciation Week, we decided to join Animal Control Supervisor Angela Jones for a tweetalong to learn about her, her job, and see a day in the life of an animal control officer in Georgetown.
While no two workdays are the same for a lot of us, when it comes to animal control, Jones said anything is possible. From loose dogs and stray cats to wildlife and loose livestock, Jones told us to be prepared for anything.
“Our calls vary so much day by day and season by season,” she said. “One month we can impound 40 animals, and the next month 11. In the spring, we tend to bring in more cats so those numbers can increase drastically.”
Jones said her tips for people to keep their pets safe are to vaccinate them for rabies and make sure your license them with the City each year.
“It’s also very helpful to microchip your animals so in the event they get lost we can reunite them with you much faster,” she said.
Her other tip is to have a plan in place in case of emergencies such as natural disasters, hospitalizations, changes in family status, or accidents. You can find information about pet emergency plans here.
We joined Jones on Thursday, April 14, for her eight-hour shift. During our time together, we helped reunite two dogs with their families, had the opportunity to educate several residents on the City’s leash ordinances, moved a snake from a resident’s back porch, and rescued an opossum.
You can relive the day with us here.
Here are some highlights from our day:
Georgetown Police Department statement regarding incident with GISD students
On April 5, 2022, the Georgetown Police Department released the following statement:
“The Georgetown Police Department is aware of and actively investigating the incident that occurred recently involving juveniles. We are sensitive to the significant community concern and understandable interest in this incident. However, due to the fact that everyone involved in the incident are juveniles, the Georgetown Police Department is prohibited by law from sharing any details or updates on the case. We want to assure the community that we are and have been actively investigating this incident since we were notified of it, are working to learn all the facts and will take appropriate action based on those facts while abiding by confidentiality laws that protect juveniles.”
Since that time, the Georgetown Police Department has continued to actively investigate this incident. On Thursday, April 7, 2022, two juveniles were taken into custody pursuant to this investigation. Due to juvenile confidentiality laws, we are unable to release any information about juveniles who are taken into custody for offenses. In compliance with state law (specifically Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Section 15.27), notification of the arrests was made to the Georgetown ISD on April 7, 2022.
As discussed, due to the nature and sensitivity of the incident and the fact that juveniles were involved, very limited information has been released as a matter of law. This has caused a great deal of misinformation to be discussed and shared via social media across our community, which we would like to address. First, it has been stated that the Georgetown Police Department has failed to properly investigate this matter. This is not factual. A proper and thorough investigation has been conducted and arrests have been made pursuant to law. Second, it has been stated that the Georgetown Police Department has failed to collect video evidence. As of this statement, no video evidence regarding this incident has been discovered, secured or delivered to the Georgetown Police Department despite a significant amount of commentary on its existence. Anyone with knowledge about the existence or whereabouts of any video relating to this incident is asked to contact Georgetown Police Detective Ruben Vasquez. Detective Vasquez can be reached at 512-930-8420 or CID@georgetown.org.
We know that this incident has caused a significant amount of concern and discord within the Georgetown community. We want to thank the community for their cooperation as we continue working through this incident and its aftermath.
Last day to register to vote April 7
The last day to register to vote for the May election is April 7. Candidates for the District 7 City Council race are Ben Stewart and write-in candidate Jaquita Wilson-Kirby.
City Council races for District 3 and 4 are uncontested and will not be on the ballot. Incumbent Mike Triggs will represent District 3 and Ron Garland will represent District 4.
To see maps of council districts, go to maps.georgetown.org.
Early in-person voting is April 25-30 and May 2-3. Election day is May 7. Early voting and election day polling places, dates, and times will be listed at wilco.org/elections.
Red Poppy Festival in downtown Georgetown on April 22-24
Rodney Atkins to headline Red Poppy Festival
The City of Georgetown’s Red Poppy Festival has a new headliner this year. Country music artist Rodney Atkins will take the main stage at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23.
Atkin’s singles include “Watching You,” “Farmer’s Daughter,” “Going Through Hell,” and “Caught Up In The Country.”
Saturday’s initial headliner, country music artist Jack Ingram, is unable to perform due to unforeseen circumstances.
This signature festival on the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas is this Friday through Sunday, April 22-24, and features live music, entertainment, family fun, food, and more than 100 arts and craft vendors.
The festival starts at 6 p.m. Friday. The Friday night concert features Dysfunkshun Junkshun. Other festival highlights include the Red Poppy Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and the Car Show at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
For all the details, go to RedPoppyFestival.com.
Red Poppy Festival in downtown Georgetown on April 22-24
Celebrate the City’s signature event on the most beautiful town square in Texas at the 21st annual Red Poppy Festival. The festival kicks off on Friday night and runs through Sunday with three days of music, entertainment, family fun, and more than 100 artisan vendors.
The City is offering a variety of options for visitors to get to this year’s Red Poppy Festival. Several free public parking lots are available throughout downtown, as well as shuttle options Saturday.
“We are so excited to bring Red Poppy back to April after two years,” Tourism Manager Cari Miller said. “We have a great lineup, lots to do, and we can’t wait to see everyone again. I do want to remind people to plan to arrive early, be patient, and be prepared to be amongst hundreds of people, especially Saturday night.”
Volunteers needed
Each year, thousands of people attend the Red Poppy Festival. And each year, attendees generate more than 10,000 pounds of waste. Georgetown wants to recover as much recyclable materials as possible to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill and to keep the Square beautiful. To do this, the City is asking for volunteers who want to make a difference in our community.
Volunteers will walk through the event to pick up litter, assist vendors with breaking down and stacking cardboard, and provide recycling information to attendees. No experience is needed, and the first 100 volunteers to sign up will receive a free Red Poppy Festival T-shirt. Sign up for a two-hour shift here.
Enter the Poppy Parade
As of April 5, Saturday’s Red Poppy Parade had 11 openings for a place to be in the parade. There is no fee to participate in the parade. Entry options range from walkers and dancers to car riders and trailers, and the goal is simple: Celebrating all things Red Poppy!
Apply here while spots last. Contact Assistant City Secretary Karen Frost with questions: 512-930-3651.
Event schedule
Rodney Atkins is the headliner Saturday night and takes the stage at 9:30 p.m. Chris Knight and Peterson Brothers will open for Atkins at 7:45 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. Longtime festival favorite Dysfunkshun Junkshun is back for the Friday night concert at 7 p.m. There is no admission charge for the concerts or other festival activities. Feel free to bring your own chair and cooler if you are coming for the day.
Other festival highlights include the Red Poppy Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday. The parade route has changed this year and will go down Ninth Street, rather than 10th Street, to increase the availability of handicap parking. The Car Show starts at 11 a.m. Saturday. On Sunday, come see the pet parade at 11 a.m.
The Red Poppy Kids Zone is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The Kids Zone is free and includes an obstacle course, a huge slide, a basketball game, and a toddler playground.
Event parking
The Williamson County parking garage at Rock and Fourth streets and the public parking lot on Austin Avenue between Fifth and Fourth streets (next to The Monument Cafe) will be open during the festival. Public parking lots on Martin Luther King Jr. Street at West Eighth and West Sixth streets are also available. There is no charge for parking.
Attendees are asked to be courteous when parking on neighborhood streets and avoid blocking driveways or parking in No Parking Zones. No Parking Zone restrictions will be enforced. Parking in a No Parking Zone can result in a citation as well as your vehicle being towed.
Handicap parking is available at the parking lot at 10th and Main streets.
The City parking lot at Sixth and Main streets will be closed starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 21.
Free shuttles on Saturday
Free shuttles will run 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23.
Shuttles will run from East View High School, 4490 E. University Ave., and from First Baptist Church, 1333 W. University Ave. Both shuttles will drop off at the corner of Austin Avenue and Ninth Street, a block from the Red Poppy Stage.
There will be no GoGeo fixed-route bus services. People with a qualifying disability may receive paratransit services until 7 p.m. Friday. Eligible riders pay $2 per trip and must make a reservation 24 hours in advance. More information at gogeo.georgetown.org.
Street closures
Austin Avenue closes Friday morning: Starting at 6 a.m. Friday, April 22, Austin Avenue will be closed from Sixth to Ninth streets. Traffic will be detoured to Rock Street. This is to allow the placement of the main festival stage. Austin Avenue will be closed through 11 p.m. Sunday, April 24.
Other streets around the Courthouse Square will close at 6 a.m. Friday, April 22, to allow for vendor set-up. Streets around the Square will remain closed through 10 p.m. Sunday, April 24.
Where are the poppies? Click here for a map showing the locations of red poppies in Georgetown. You can also stop by the Visitors Center at 103 W. Seventh St.
For a complete schedule and more details, including information on parking and road closures, visit RedPoppyFestival.com.
Adults with disabilities dance April 29
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a free dance for adults with disabilities from 7-9 p.m. April 29 at the Georgetown Community Center, 445 E. Morrow St. The theme of the dance is “Enchanted Forest.”
The event is designed for, but not limited to, people age 18 and older with special needs. A family member and/or caregiver must be present at all times. A concession stand with snacks and beverages will be available onsite. Items cost $1 to $2 each and are available for purchase with cash only.
Volunteers are needed to help with the concession stand, photo booth and greeting attendees. Please sign up here. Local organizations and businesses also are welcome to participate in the dance.
Celebrate the WOW!mobile’s 10th birthday
Georgetown residents are invited to celebrate the Georgetown Public Library WOW!mobile’s 10th birthday. The open-house celebration of the library’s bookmobile will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, April 15, in the library’s Ninth Street parking lot and patio. Refreshments will be provided.
“It’s been a great 10 years for mobile library service in Georgetown,” Library Director Sally Miculek said. “We’ve welcomed countless kids, grownups, dogs, and even the occasional cat to the WOW!mobile. We’d love to see and celebrate with you on the 15th!”
The Georgetown Public Library WOW!mobile (Words on Wheels) provides personalized, comprehensive library service to people who may have difficulty visiting our community library, including seniors, the physically limited, children, and teens. Bookmobile stops include Sun City, apartments, and assisted living locations. The selection of stops is based on a variety of factors including distance from the main library, mobility of residents and service needs, and suggestions for new stops are welcome. The schedule is available here.
For more information, visit library.georgetown.org/wow.
Proposed Voluntary Annexation of 5.815 Acres (Rabbit Hill Industrial)
The City of Georgetown is considering a voluntary annexation of property into the city limits. A Public Hearing will be held at the April 12, 2022 meeting at 6:00pm. City Council meetings are located at the City Council Chambers, 510 W. 9th Street. This Board is now meeting in-person with a quorum present and the public is welcome to attend. If special accommodations are needed, please reach out to the Staff Liaison, Robyn Densmore at robyn.densmore@georgetown.org or 512-931-7715 for assistance. Additional information on available options for public comment will be provided on the posted agenda.
The area being considered for voluntary annexation approximately 5.815 acres in the L.J. Dyches Survey Abstract No. 180 and a 1.648-acre portion of Rabbit Hill Road, a right-of-way of varying width of record described to Williamson County, Texas, generally located south of SE Inner Loop and east of Rabbit Hill Road
After holding the required public hearings, the City Council will consider an ordinance for the annexation.
For additional information, please contact Cesar Acosta in the Planning Department, 512-930-6652 or email at cesar.acosta@georgetown.org.
City of Georgetown presents third State of the City online
The City of Georgetown’s third annual State of the City presentation will premiere on Facebook and YouTube from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 13.
In the video presentation, which will premiere at noon, Mayor Josh Schroeder and City Manager David Morgan highlight significant events and major projects completed in 2021 and preview what’s to come in 2022.
Topics include:
- Winter Storm Uri
- Growth
- Water and electric utilities
- Transportation
- Quality of life
“While 2021 tested us, we still came together as a community,” Schroeder said. “Now, we’re stronger than ever. You can see it every time you interact with your Georgetown neighbors, businesses, and City staff.”
During the lunch hour, residents are invited to submit questions to Morgan and City leaders in the Facebook or YouTube comments, or by emailing pio@georgetown.org. The City will post answers in the comment sections and on the event webpage.
“We have a lot of great information to share about the steps we are taking to plan and prepare for the continued growth we have been experiencing while maintaining the welcoming, vibrant Georgetown we all love,” Morgan said. “This is our first attempt at this kind of virtual event. I’m looking forward to connecting with Georgetown residents and seeing if this is a format we should use more often.”
The City held its first State of the City event in 2020 at City Hall and in council chambers. The 2021 event was held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Click here for more information on the State of the City premiere, including instructions on how to join the event and additional details on the topics covered.
Georgetown approves updated Hazard Mitigation Plan
On Feb. 8, City Council approved an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, which was informed through feedback from residents last year.
The plan, which is updated every five years, aims to minimize, or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from known hazards, such as droughts floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and other major disasters. Hazard mitigation efforts include projects such as flood channel clearing, road and bridge design changes, property buy-outs, building code changes, or public alert systems.
”A priority for City Council is to better prepare and respond to disasters,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “This plan is a critical tool to ensure we appropriately inventory the natural hazards facing Georgetown and prioritize efforts to mitigate those threats.”
Residents were able to provide input on the draft plan through May 30, 2021. The City hosted an online survey Dec. 17, 2020-Jan. 17, 2021, asking residents and business owners to help identify, analyze, and prepare for potential hazards.
During that survey, residents and business owners were asked to share whether they had been affected by disaster events and what areas of the community they thought are particularly vulnerable to potential disasters. The City received 349 responses to the survey. Of those who responded, 47 percent indicated they had been affected by a natural or manmade disaster in the past five years, the most common being hail.
The public was able to provide comments on the draft plan through May 30, 2021, which was compiled and included in the final draft plan, along with feedback from a City Council workshop on April 13, 2021. The bulk of the comments centered on improving communications with the public during emergencies and better preparing for and improving community awareness of various hazards, including drought, wildfire, flash flooding, and human-caused disasters like hazardous material spills.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Management Agency reviewed and approved the plan on Jan. 6. City Council unanimously adopted the plan Feb. 8, 2022.
The final plan is available on the City’s website. The updated Hazard Mitigation Plan also allows the city to pursue different federal and state funding opportunities to implement the plan.
‘Pillar of Salt’ author visit at Georgetown Public Library
The Georgetown Public Library is hosting an author talk and book signing for “Pillar of Salt: A Daughter’s Life in the Shadow of the Holocaust” by author Anna Salton Eisen and coauthored with her son, Aaron Eisen. This free event will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 24, in the Hewlett Room of the library, 402 W. Eighth St.
This author visit is being sponsored by Congregation Havurah Shalom of Sun City, in honor of Yom Hashoah, which is the Holocaust Day of Remembrance.
“Pillar of Salt” is the examination of the generational trauma Holocaust survivors and their families deal with. Salton Eisen’s father did not disclose his survival of concentration camps until she was well into adulthood. In the book, she recounts her legacy as a child of Holocaust survivors and how that suffering is passed down.
Salton Eisen has conducted extensive research into the Holocaust and its effect on survivors and the children of survivors. The children of Holocaust survivors are collectively referred to as “second generation.” Their parents’ entire world was destroyed; they had to begin anew, but they suffered the memories in silence. As the survivors have aged, the responsibility to bear witness must be passed down to their children and their children’s children.
Following the presentation, Lark and Owl Booksellers will have books available for purchase and signing.
