Election day is Saturday, May 7
Election day is Saturday, May 7, for Georgetown voters. Polling locations are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on election day. Voters may cast ballots at any polling location in Williamson County.
District 7 candidates will be on the ballot for Georgetown residents who live in District 7. Georgetown ISD board of trustees candidates will be on the ballot for residents who live in the GISD attendance area.
Election day polling locations in Georgetown are:
- Cowan Creek Amenity Center, 1433 Cool Spring Way
- Georgetown ISD Technology Building, 603 Lakeway Drive
- Randalls, 5721 Williams Drive
- Williamson County Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way
For all locations in Williamson County, polling places, dates, and times on election day are listed at wilco.org/elections.
To see maps of council districts, go to maps.georgetown.org.
City Council races for districts 3 and 4 are uncontested and are not on the ballot. Incumbent Mike Triggs will represent District 3 and Ron Garland will represent District 4.
For details about the city election, go to government.georgetown.org/city-secretary/elections.
South Lake Water Treatment Plant groundbreaking May 10
The City of Georgetown will break ground on the South Lake Water Treatment Plant on May 10. The new plant will double the treatment capacity of the water utility with planned construction completion in two phases from 2025-2026. The new plant will be located on the south side of Lake Georgetown, near Cedar Breaks Park.
The new treatment plant is needed to continue to meet the water demands of a growing community and has been part of the Water Master Plan for decades.
“With more than 5,000 new residents coming to Georgetown last year, the demand for water continues to increase rapidly,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “As a result, the City Council voted to accelerate the schedule for this new water treatment plant. In doubling the treatment capacity of our water utility with this plant, we will be ready to serve the water needs of our growing city.”
After a competitive bid process, PLW Waterworks was awarded the construction contract for the plant, which will have a capacity of producing 44 million gallons per day of treated water. CDM Smith is the design engineer for the new plant.
The contract cost is $175.3 million, which will be funded by water utility revenues. Impact fees paid by developers of new homes, as well as utility revenues from water bills, will fund the 30-year revenue bonds for the new plant.
The project includes the water treatment facility as well as a raw water intake on Lake Georgetown and a raw water transmission line. Other elements of the project include an administration building that houses a secondary control center, process control labs, and additional office and administration space.
The City purchased the land for the plant site about three years ago and began design for the facility about two years ago.
Georgetown water customers: Emergency water conservation notice lifted
Last updated 2:05 a.m. Tuesday, April 26
As of 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, Georgetown water customers can resume regular water use. City staff were able to make repairs to intake pumps and use regional water supply to get our main water treatment plant back up and running until permanent repairs can be made.
A generator was secured out of an abundance of caution, but wasn’t ultimately needed. The City is currently designing a permanent generator back up at the plant.
The City would like to thank all its water customers, regional partners in Round Rock and Leander, to City staff, and to our electric contractors, T-Morales and Eaton, who helped us through this incident.
Around 9 p.m. Monday, April 25, the City issued an immediate water conservation notice to all water customers (see a map of Georgetown’s water utility here). The water remained safe to drink, but conservation was critical to avoiding boil water notices.
Water customers were asked to limit water use by turning off their irrigation system and limiting residential water use.
The notice was in response to an issue at the City’s largest water treatment plant. A fire at a transformer, reported about 7:36 p.m. Monday, caused the pump station and intake pump to go down. There were no injuries.
Staff worked overnight to determine repairs, locating parts, etc., and were prepared to bring in a generator from Dallas. The City has several backup generators, a lesson from Winter Storm Uri, but was unable to use them for this purpose. Intake pumps require specialized equipment and having the ability to rent them quickly also helps meet the City’s resiliency requirements and goals.
Staff also worked with regional partners, including the cities of Round Rock and Leander, to ensure we maintained a supply of safe drinking water.
Early voting April 25-May 3
The first day of early voting is Monday, April 25, for the District 7 City Council race.
The early, in-person voting period is April 25-30 and May 2-3. Election day is May 7.
Candidates for the District 7 City Council race are Ben Stewart and write-in candidate Jaquita Wilson-Kirby. The District 7 candidates will be on the ballot for Georgetown residents who live in District 7. Georgetown ISD board of trustees candidates will be on the ballot for residents who live in the GISD attendance area.
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 voting locations in Georgetown are:
- Cowan Creek Amenity Center, 1433 Cool Spring Way
- Georgetown ISD Technology Building, 603 Lakeway Drive
- Randalls, 5721 Williams Drive
- Williamson County Georgetown Annex, 100 Wilco Way, HR108
For all locations in Williamson County, polling places, dates, and times during early voting and on election day are listed at wilco.org/elections.
City hosts riverbank cleanup event May 14
The City of Georgetown is hosting a riverbank cleanup event May 14 in Rivery Park, 1125 Woodlawn Ave. Free public parking is available in the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center garage, 1101 Woodlawn St.
Volunteers can check-in for the event beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the white tent near the playground, which is located in the middle of the park. A safety briefing will be held at 8:55 a.m. The cleanup will be from 9-10 a.m.
Volunteers must fill out this waiver to participate. Volunteers may sign the waiver at the event.
During the event, trash bags and gloves, as well as light snacks and drinks, will be provided. Participants are asked to wear appropriate clothing such as long pants, hats, and sunglasses, as well as comfortable closed-toe shoes.
Individuals interested in volunteering can email MS4Operator@georgetown.org to register or sign up here. The cleanup event may be canceled in case of bad weather. Follow the City’s social media pages for updates: Facebook and Twitter.
Brazos River Authority enters drought watch for Lake Georgetown
City of Georgetown water customers: No watering in heat of day
City of Georgetown water utility customers should not water lawns or landscapes during the heat of the day, from noon to 7 p.m. effective immediately. This prohibition reflects the City entering Phase I of its drought contingency plan, which is in response to the Brazos River Authority entering Stage 1 Drought Watch for Lake Georgetown.
In addition, Georgetown water utility customers need to follow the two-day watering schedule and refrain from watering their lawns on Mondays. The year-round, two-day per week irrigation schedule is based on the last digit of the street address. Click here to view watering schedule.
“We are asking customers to take this additional step in conservation out of an abundance of caution, out of respect to the BRA’s warning, and so we can be good stewards of this shared, limited resource,” Water Utility Director Chelsea Solomon said. “Meeting the community’s demand for water is going to be more challenging than ever this summer, when we use 75 percent of our treated water trying to keep our lawns green during the hottest months. We are working to bring additional treatment capacity online, but the first won’t be operational until next year at the earliest. We need everyone’s help this summer, so we can continue to provide treated water to all the homes and businesses in our more than 400-square-mile service area.”
Irrigation is not permitted on Mondays, because they are a maintenance and recovery day for the water system. The two-day schedule spreads watering over six days each week in order to balance demand on the water system. Watering with a hand-held hose or bucket can be done any day and at any time. Other outdoor water uses like washing a vehicle or filling a swimming pool, can be done any day at any time.
Violations of the irrigation schedule and watering during the heat of the day may result in fines.
Lake Georgetown is in Stage 1 Drought Watch due to drier-than-normal conditions in portions of the Brazos River basin and drought trigger levels set by the BRA’s Drought Contingency Plan. As of March 23, Lake Georgetown was at 76 percent of full capacity, according to the authority. Williamson County is also in a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s March 18 update. Practicing wise water use now will help to ensure adequate water supply during the hotter summer months.
During the summer months, 75 percent of the drinking water treated each day in the city is used to irrigate lawns and landscapes. Following the City’s two-day watering schedule and adjusting irrigation run times can help save water and still maintain a healthy lawn.
The best time for watering your lawn and landscape is on your watering day in the early morning hours after midnight. This allows the water to soak into the soil and reach the roots of your grass and plants. Watering during the heat of the day, especially between noon and 7 p.m., should be avoided since much of the water sprayed from sprinklers will evaporate and is wasted.
For help setting your irrigation controller, call customer care at 512-930-3640.
While the City is not running out of water, conservation during the hottest and driest parts of the year help ensure our shared resource is available for all who need it. The City also has several ongoing water utility expansion projects to help meet the needs of our growing population. This includes the expansion of the North Lake Water Treatment Plant, which is expected to be completed in summer 2023, and the construction of a South Lake Water Treatment Plant, which should be operational in 2025.
Click here for more information on the Drought Contingency Plan.
Celebrate arts in Georgetown this April
The City of Georgetown is hosting two arts events for our visitors and resident art lovers in April. Students from Georgetown ISD also will be installing a new mural downtown.
Spring Art Stroll
Patrons are invited to come view and purchase art, enjoy live music, and engage in arts activities from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at various locations in the Downtown Georgetown Cultural District.
Arts activities will take place at multiple locations, including Grace Plaza, Grace Heritage Center, Georgetown Art Center, local arts businesses, The Williamson Museum, Georgetown Public Library, and the Shotgun House Museum. Visitors are also invited for photo opportunities and face painting on Rock Street before joining Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Pitts at 7:15 p.m. at To Have and To Hold, 215 W. Eighth St., for a dedication of Georgetown’s newest mural, “Traditions to the Future” by Mila Sketch.
Participants will also be able to view and provide feedback on the new street mural and decorative crosswalk at the Georgetown Public Library while enjoying offerings from Southbound Sips and Scoops Ice Cream.
Artists selected as booth exhibitors in Grace Plaza include Jennifer Warner’s photography, Deitra Roberts-Biely’s custom jewelry, Katie Pendrey’s stained glass, Randall Case’s large mixed media paintings, and Virginia Headley Maserang’s abstract encaustics.
Find out more information about the Spring Art Stroll.
Arts and Culture Brown Bag Luncheon
The quarterly Arts and Culture Brown Bag Luncheon returns at noon April 14. Pack your lunch and join us at the Georgetown Public Library for a presentation by Civic Arts Executive Director Lynn Osgood. Her presentation, “Arts Leading the Way in Community Development,” breaks down the details of how to use the arts and public art in community development projects and other creative place-making initiatives. Updates from arts and culture stakeholders in the Downtown Georgetown Cultural District will follow Osgood’s presentation.
Find more information about the Arts and Culture Brown Bag Luncheon.
Georgetown ISD mural Expansion by Forbes Middle School art students
Students from Forbes Middle School were selected by the Georgetown ISD Fine Arts Department to install another section of the GISD mural at 101 E. Seventh St., the building that is home to Tejas Meat Supply. The mural wall shares an alleyway with The Baked Bear. The new section will complement the existing section by Georgetown High School students and lead student Peyton Vega, “Everyone Deserves Kindness.”
The new section was designed by lead artist Kelsie Cargill and is titled, “Be Your Own Person.” The mural will be painted first on “ripstop” mural fabric and adhered to the wall of the building. Cargill and other students will paint the mural in the classroom during late March. Installation is scheduled for the week of April 11.
More information about arts and culture in Georgetown is available here.
Registration for summer camps open next week
Georgetown Parks and Recreation will offer a variety of summer camps for area students beginning the week of May 31. Resident registration will begin at 8 a.m. Monday, March 21, and nonresident registration will begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 22.
Age requirements, pricing, and schedules vary for each program. Summer camps are not licensed childcare programs. All fees listed are charged per week.
Participants can select from:
Adventure Camp: Ages vary from 11-14 based on program; weekly sessions offered from June 6-Aug. 5; rates vary based on program
Art Camp: Ages 5 (completed Kindergarten)-8; June 20-24 and July 18-22; $180 resident/$225 nonresident
Athletic Skills Camp: Ages 6-16; July 18-22; $140 resident/$170 nonresident
Battle Bots: Ages 6-14; June 20-24 and July 25-29; $198 resident/nonresident
Brandy Perryman Basketball Shooting Camp: Ages 7-16; June 13-16; $249 resident/nonresident through May 31; $269 resident/nonresident starting June 1
Camp Goodwater: Ages 5 (completed Kindergarten)-12; Weekly sessions offered from May 31-Aug. 12; $155 resident/$195 nonresident
Circle of Friends (Adaptive Camp): Ages 13-23; June 20-23, June 27-30, July 11-14, and July 18-21; GISD students only; $135 resident/$170 nonresident
Extreme Lego Maker: Ages 5-15; June 6-10; $198 resident/nonresident
Football Skills Camp: Ages 6-16; July 25-29; $140 resident/$170 nonresident
Hip Hop Dance Camp: Ages 8-14; June 6-10 and July 25-29; $135 resident/$169 nonresident
Junior Fire Academy: Ages 11-14; June 6-10; $100 resident/$125 nonresident
Junior Tennis Academy: Ages 12-16; weekly sessions offered from June 6-Aug. 12; $100 resident/$125 nonresident
Lego® Robotics and Engineering Camp: Ages 5 (completed Kindergarten)-14; June 11-15 (morning), June 18-22 (morning), Aug. 13-17 (morning or afternoon); $185 resident/$230 nonresident
Let’s Make Friends (Adaptive Camp): Ages 5 (completed Kindergarten)-12; June 20-23, June 27-30, July 11-14, and July 18-21; GISD students only; $135 resident/$170 nonresident
Movie Making: Ages 6-14; June 27-July 1; $198 resident/nonresident
Soccer Camp: Ages 6-16; June 13-16; $200 resident/$250 nonresident
Sticky Fingers Cooking Baking Boot Camp: Ages 6-12; June 13-16; $195 resident/$245 nonresident
Sticky Fingers Cooking Global Taste Buds Camp: Ages 6-12; July 11-14; $195 resident/$245 nonresident
Tennis Camp: Ages 7-12; weekly sessions offered from June 6-Aug. 12; $155 resident/$195 nonresident
Track & Field Camp: Ages 6-16; June 27-July 1; $140 resident/$170 nonresident
Twirling Camp: Ages 8-14; June 27-July 1; $150 resident/$188 nonresident
U-Tubers Unite: Ages 9-14; July 18-22; $198 resident/nonresident
Volleyball Skills Camp (Beginner): Ages 8-12; June 6-10; $125 resident/$155 nonresident
Volleyball Skills Camp (Intermediate): Ages 10-14; June 20-24; $125 resident/$155 nonresident
Click here more information and to register or call 512-930-3596.
Updated 2/23/2022: 75 dogs die in fire at pet boarding facility
Updates
Click here to jump to the Questions and Answers section below
Questions and Answers
Fire Investigation
Changes to City ordinances and international codes
Kennel permits
CelLink to open manufacturing site in Georgetown
Innovative flexible circuit maker chooses Titan Development’s Gateway35 Commerce Center for state-of-the-art production facility
CelLink Corporation will open a manufacturing facility in Georgetown to produce flexible circuits used in electric vehicles and battery storage units. The facility will be at the Gateway35 Commerce Center, a master-planned industrial park by Titan Development (“Titan”). CelLink selected Titan’s Building 1, a Class A 294,297-square-foot building that is strategically located in Georgetown between I-35 and SH 130. This new building is expected to be completed in June 2022.
CelLink manufactures the world’s largest and most electrically and thermally conductive flexible circuits, essential for the automotive and energy storage industries. The company is a key supplier to major electric vehicle manufacturers providing intelligent wiring systems needed for automotive wiring and battery packs with a key focus on efficiency and safety.
“We are excited to see Georgetown become part of the growing electric vehicle and energy storage industries,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “Companies like CelLink and industrial park developers like Titan will strengthen the economic foundation of our community bringing sales tax revenue, creative talent, and good jobs to our city.”
CelLink plans to hire 800-2,000 employees in high tech jobs over the next 10 years, which will make them one of the largest private sector employers in the city. The total capital investment for the project is estimated to be $130 million in five years.
“Williamson County is becoming known as a hub for technology and innovation due to our highly skilled and educated workforce,” Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said. “Having another world class project land in our county reinforces our desire to bring good paying, exceptional employment opportunities to our residents.”
CelLink will receive a total combined incentive package worth $8.02 million from local jurisdictions, including:
- A Williamson County property tax abatement for 10 years of 75 percent for business personal property and 50 percent for real property, valued at $2.11 million.
- A City of Georgetown property tax abatement of the same terms, valued at $2.18 million
- An infrastructure reimbursement grant of $2.5 million, paid from the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation Type A sales tax fund
- A five-year job creation grant with a total value of $525,000, also paid from GEDCO
- The retirement of Renewable Energy Credits to offset the company’s electric usage for five years to certify the facility as using 100 percent renewable energy, valued at up to $1 million.
“This new manufacturing facility is ideally located in Central Texas to serve our customers, many of whom are electric vehicle manufacturers,” CelLink CEO Kevin Coakley said. “The experience and knowledge of manufacturing that Titan’s development team has brought to this project has been outstanding – they really understand how to customize for manufacturing. The City of Georgetown has also been a terrific partner who embraces advanced manufacturing and the idea of helping to build the supply chain for electric vehicle manufacturing in its town. Georgetown provides access to a skilled and educated workforce in the region fostered by advanced Texas State Technical College and Austin Community College curriculums in high-tech manufacturing. It has all the amenities of a vibrant city, making Georgetown a perfect fit for our expansion.”
“We are thrilled to have CelLink coming to our industrial park at Georgetown to manufacture sophisticated, high demand electronics in the flexible circuits sector,” said Joe Iannacone, Austin-based senior vice president at Titan Development. “This is a perfect example of the kind of fast-growing industries that Georgetown has been seeking for economic development.”
Gateway35 Commerce Center is a two-phase project on 114 acres positioned at the intersection of I-35 and SH 130, less than 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Titan Development and the City of Georgetown are developing a new road for the park, Wittera Way, which connects to both I-35 and SH 130 with easy access to the major highways for Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Gateway35 is at the northernmost point of the Austin metropolitan statistical area and close to the Georgetown Municipal Airport and many single-family residential neighborhoods.