Loram Technologies to build rail R&D center in Georgetown
A global rail maintenance and rail services company plans to start construction later this year on an innovation center for research and development in Georgetown. Loram Technologies, formally GREX, expects to employ 310 people at the center after the expansion, including 150 new positions.
“The vision behind Loram Technologies Inc. is to build on GREX’s successful railroad technology solutions while harmonizing Loram’s mergers and acquisitions activity over the last several years,” Loram Technologies President Greg Grissom said. “By aligning global software, data, and engineering teams, we will accelerate new product development and bring our railroad customers the very best in next generation technology products and field services. Loram is also thrilled to bring further investment into Georgetown with a new state of the art office and manufacturing facility with construction starting in late 2021.”
Loram Maintenance of Way acquired Georgetown-based GREX in 2018. GREX changed its name to Loram Technologies on Jan. 1, 2021, and remains based in Georgetown. The parent company is headquartered in Hamel, Minn., has six global offices, and is a supplier of track maintenance equipment and services for freight railroads, transit systems, and commuter railroads.
Loram expects to invest $17 million in the Georgetown research and development center with an average salary of $60,000. A Georgetown Economic Development Corporation agreement with Loram approved by City Council at its Feb. 23 meeting includes a job retention and creation grant of $1,000 per job, plus an infrastructure reimbursement for a total incentive of $800,000 for the project.
“We are excited to be home to this research and manufacturing facility in Georgetown,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “Expanding on the innovation of GREX, a home-grown rail technology company started by Ned Snead, is great. This center adds highly skilled jobs in our community and keeps us on track to strengthen our economy.”
Updated: Energy cost impact + FAQ
City issues $48M debt issuance, no rate change for customers
Updated, March 24: The City of Georgetown issued about $48 million in a 10-year bond to pay for the unbudgeted energy costs incurred due to February’s winter storm. City Council in a special-called meeting March 2 directed staff to pay the debt over 10 years from electric utility revenues at current rates. Council approved the bond at its regular meeting March 23.
“Even as we got word on the exorbitant cost of energy while we were in the middle of the disaster, our focus was delivering electricity to our customers and controlling the variables we could,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “Another variable we have some control over is the burden placed on Georgetown electric customers as a result of this event, and the steps we took Tuesday will mitigate additional costs for our customers.”
As a result of the planned bond issuance, Georgetown electric customers will see no difference in their electric rates, despite the high energy costs during the storm. The City’s bill currently was due at the beginning of April 2021. Council and staff are committed to retiring this debt as soon as possible, while maintaining competitive rates for customers. Any changes to rates or the bond needed because of an amended bill will be brought before the council for discussion and direction.
At City Council direction, the City will use the existing power cost adjustment of $0.01375 per kilowatt hour to help cover the cost of the bond as it is paid back over 10 years. For the average residential customer, that amounts to about $10 a month. The current PCA generates about $6 million a year, which would cover the additional, annual debt payment of $5.3 million from the 10-year bond.
The City also is pursuing a surety policy to cover an additional $6.4 million in reserves, which may be required to maintain debt service coverage ratios after the costs from the winter storm. The one-time, up-front payment for the policy will be paid for using existing revenues.
Customers might have seen higher-than-normal electric bills for February due to increased usage. Even with the mandated power outages from ERCOT, heating and reheating of a home consumes considerable energy and is likely to result in higher bills this month. The City has multiple options to help you pay your electric bill, such as funding assistance through partner agencies and in-house customer programs you may qualify for. People can contact Customer Care at 512-930-3640 or customercare@georgetown.org to discuss options.
The City currently owes about $48 million for energy used Feb. 14 through 20. About $21 million of that is for about 3,000 megawatt hours. The remaining 13,000 megawatt hours the City used during the storm were generated by providers at contracted rates. Roughly $27 million of what the City owes is for ancillary services, which are charges for reserve or on-demand power supply by ERCOT that cost as much as $25,000 per megawatt hour during the event. For context, the City paid $710,000 in ancillary services in all of 2020. The remaining $21 million is for energy costs, which peaked at $9,000 per megawatt hour. Last month, the average cost per megawatt hour was $20.79. The $9,000 per megawatt hour maximum price was in effect in the ERCOT market for 70 hours from Feb. 16 to 19.
“We’re still hopeful PUCT and legislators find solutions that will help alleviate the financial burden being placed on utilities across the state,” Schroeder said. “I encourage you to reach out to your state representatives and trust we will be doing the same.”
How will the recent winter storm affect my electric bill?
Georgetown rates will not change, but you could see higher bills due to usage.
While it is true that the wholesale price of power increased exponentially for all Texas electric utilities during February’s extreme weather, City of Georgetown electric customers will see no difference in their electric rates at this time. At the direction of City Council, the City of Georgetown took out a loan of about $48 million, to be paid by electric revenue over 10 years, to cover our unbudgeted energy costs from the storm. Interest on the loan will total about $5 million at a 1.73 percent interest rate. Any changes will be communicated publicly through this webpage, other City communications channels, and the media.
If your electric bill was higher than normal for this time of year, it likely was due to how much energy you used during the storm. Heating your home during cold weather uses a significant amount of energy, even more so if you experienced outages and needed to reheat your home. We know some of those outages were in response to ERCOT’s load shed/rotation outage requirements to protect the statewide electric grid from collapsing. We have multiple options to help you pay your electric bill, such as funding assistance through partner agencies and in-house customer programs you may qualify for.
The rest of this page provides more detail on what happened and answers to frequently asked questions about the situation.
Virtual Town Hall about electric costs
Watch the recording of the March 11 town hall. The event featured presentations and Q&A from Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder, City Manager David Morgan, and electric general manager Daniel Bethapudi.
Read the slides from the presentation here.
Resources:
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- Watch the video from the March 11 Town Hall
- View the presentation from the March 11 Town Hall
- Read the presentations from the March 2 Council meeting here: Electric and Finance presentations
- Watch the March 2 Council meeting here.
- Watch the video from the March 23 Council meeting here.
Please note: This information is about City of Georgetown electric customers only. If you are a customer of Pedernales Electric Cooperative or Oncor, you will need to review their information or make contact with them to determine how the storm will affect your bill. Here is a map of the different electric service providers in Georgetown if you aren’t certain.
Oncor: 888-313-4747 / Oncor
PEC: 888-883-3379 / PEC
Electric bills and winter storm impact FAQ
Statewide issue
Georgetown impact
Georgetown electric customers
COVID-19 vaccines open to all adults March 29
All adults will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas beginning Monday, March 29. The Texas Department of State Health Services expects vaccine supplies to increase next week, and providers in multiple parts of the state have made great strides in vaccinating people in the current priority groups. The state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel recommended opening vaccination to everyone who falls under the current Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorizations to protect as many Texans as possible.
Click here to read more form the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Notice of Intention regarding City of Georgetown, Texas Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, May 11, 2021
NOTICE OF INTENTION REGARDING CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS COMBINATION TAX AND REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, to issue one or more series of interest bearing certificates of obligation of the City entitled “City of Georgetown, Texas Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation” (the “Certificates”) for the purpose of paying contractual obligations incurred or to be incurred by the City for: (1) constructing, improving and extending the City’s waterworks, sewer and electric system, including (i) water system improvements related to elevated storage tanks, supply lines, pump stations, water lines and water treatment plant rehabilitation and (ii) electric system improvements related to power lines, circuits, capacitors, switching equipment, information technology equipment and vehicles, and (2) professional services including fiscal, engineering, architectural and legal fees and other such costs incurred in connection therewith including the costs of issuing the Certificates.
The City Council tentatively proposes to consider for first and final reading at a meeting to commence at 6 o’clock, p.m., on the 11th day of May, 2021 at Council Chambers, 510 W. 9th Street, Georgetown, Texas 78626, the passage of an ordinance authorizing such Certificates which ordinance shall be entitled “ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS COMBINATION TAX AND REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, SERIES 2021A; LEVYING AN AD VALOREM TAX AND THE PLEDGE OF CERTAIN REVENUES IN SUPPORT OF THE CERTIFICATES; APPROVING AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT, A PAYING AGENT/REGISTRAR AGREEMENT AND OTHER AGREEMENTS RELATED TO THE SALE AND ISSUANCE OF THE CERTIFICATES; AND AUTHORIZING OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE CERTIFICATES.” The maximum amount of Certificates of Obligation that may be authorized for such purpose is $23,500,000. The City Council presently proposes to provide for the payment of such Certificates from the levy and collection of ad valorem taxes in the City as provided by law and from the surplus revenues of the City’s utility system in an amount not to exceed $10,000, being the combined waterworks, sewer and electric system, remaining after payment of all operation and maintenance expenses thereof, and all debt service, reserve and other requirements in connection with all of the City’s revenue bonds or other obligations (now or hereafter outstanding) which are payable from all or any part of the net revenues of the City’s utility system.
Due to the ongoing public health concerns regarding the COVID 19 virus, and as may be authorized by Executive Order of the Governor of Texas, such meeting regarding the Certificates to be held on May 11, 2021 may be conducted via a free public video conference or other lawful electronic means. In such event, information regarding how to access the meeting and public participation in the meeting will be available on the City’s website and in the agenda posted no less than 72 hours before the May 11, 2021 meeting at the following internet address: https://government.georgetown.org
The following information is required pursuant to Texas Local Government Code, Section 271.049: As of March 9, 2021, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding debt obligations of the City secured by and payable from ad valorem taxes is $222,670,000. As of March 9, 2021, the combined principal and interest required to pay all outstanding debt obligations of the City secured by and payable from ad valorem taxes on time and in full is $283,895,475. The estimated combined principal and interest required to pay the Certificates on time and in full is $31,668,958.33. The estimated interest rate for the Certificates is 3.00%. Such estimates take into account a number of factors, including the issuance schedule, maturity schedule and the expected ratings of the proposed Certificates. Such estimated interest rate is provided as a matter of information but is not a limitation on the interest rate at which the Certificates may be sold. The maximum maturity date of the Certificates is August 15, 2041.
CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS
Miculek announced as Georgetown Public Library director
Sally Miculek was selected to serve as the director of the Georgetown Public Library following the retirement of Eric Lashley in January. After a nationwide search, Miculek was chosen from a number of qualified applicants. She had been the assistant library director for Georgetown for the past seven years and previously worked in the Austin Public Library system.
“Sally’s character and skillset are a perfect fit for the next leader of our beloved library,” City Manager David Morgan said. “With Sally as our next director and the talents of our staff, I’m excited about the future of our library and our ability to meaningfully serve, partner with, and engage the community.”
Miculek is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a master’s degree in Library and Information Science. She has extensive experience in children’s services, as well as in developing special programming and cultural events. In Georgetown, she organized special community projects, such as documentary films, panel discussions, and art exhibits during Black History Month and Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month.
“The Georgetown Public Library is a great organization, because the entire leadership of the City of Georgetown shares a philosophy of values-based service to the community,” Miculek said. “I am excited to have the opportunity to help the Library navigate the many opportunities presented by the growth and change that animate the Georgetown community.”
Miculek will oversee the programming and materials for the Georgetown Public Library, which was awarded the national gold medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences in 2018. She will focus on the Library’s mission to engage, enlighten, and empower the community through outstanding service delivery with a team of 35 employees, 19 of whom are full time. She will also support partnerships with several community organizations, including the Friends of the Library, the nonprofit organization that provides significant fundraising and volunteerism for library services.
“Sally’s passion for serving the Georgetown community was evident throughout the selection process,” Assistant City Manager Laurie Brewer said. “She has the ability to work with advisory and advocacy groups, as well as other community partners to continue to provide outstanding cultural programming for our library.”
The Georgetown Library’s circulation was more than 556,000 in 2019 and more than 386,000 in 2020.
Water customers in Liberty Hill area should limit water use March 7-8
City of Georgetown water customers in the Liberty Hill, Stonewall, and County Road 200 (see red area on map) areas are asked to limit water use starting at 10 p.m. on Sunday, March 7 through 10 p.m. on Monday, March 8.
During this time, the City of Georgetown water utility will be replacing a valve in an elevated water storage tank (water tower) that was damaged during the February freezing weather event. The water storage tank will be out of service for a few hours during the repair work.
The water utility will use pumps to maintain water pressure during the repair, however limiting water consumption to indoor uses only will allow the tank to recover as quickly as possible. A reminder that Mondays are no-watering days.
If you have any questions, contact City of Georgetown Customer Care at customercare@georgetown.org or 512-930-3640.
Water service and boil water update
Update Wednesday, Feb. 24: All boil water notices have been lifted as of Feb. 22.
Update Saturday, Feb. 20: The boil water notice is still in effect. Samples taken throughout the system (except Florence), are awaiting results to be able to lift boil water notices. Samples take 1-2 days for results. Notices will be updated when the boil water notice is no longer in place.
A boil water notice remains in effect for selected areas of the Georgetown Water Utility with some customers without water service. See the area effected by the boil water order on the water outage map. The utility has made progress with major leak repairs and is currently refilling the system. Customers should continue to conserve water, using only what is absolutely necessary until the system is recovered and the boil water notice is lifted.
The capacity of the water system is still impacted by loss of pumping capacity due to subfreezing cold and icing. Water utility employees are working continuously to repair impacted equipment to restore the system to full capacity.
With the repair of major leaks, the refilling of the system has started. Customers in areas with no water service may see a slow return of water pressure with some air in the water lines. Air can be released by slightly opening a single faucet to vent the air. Customers should use caution when flushing toilets when air is present in the system as the air can cause pressure fluctuation and impact the toilet fill valves.
As the system recovers, customers should continue to conserve so that the entire system can be filled as rapidly as possible. This will allow the proper samples to be taken, analyzed, and communicated to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality so that the boil water notice can be lifted.
Due to the vast service area of the utility, customers can also be helpful by notifying the utility of any water leaks that they see by calling 512-930-3640 or sending an email to leak@georgetown.org.
The boil water notice remains in effect for portions of the service area. Utility system repairs continue with refilling of the system in progress. Customers should continue to conserve while this system recovery is in progress.
Georgetown winter storm FAQs
Updated Feb. 24, 2021
General questions
Water questions
Electric questions
Districts 1 and 5 city council candidates set for May 1 election
For Georgetown City Council elections in May, incumbent Mary Calixtro and Amanda Parr have filed to run in District 1, and Jason Norwood and incumbent Kevin Pitts have filed to run in District 5. The filing deadline was 5 p.m. today.
Early in-person voting is April 19-24 and April 26-27. Election Day is May 1. The last day to register to vote is April 1.
Early voting and Election Day polling places, dates, and times will be listed at wilco.org/elections.
View council district maps at maps.georgetown.org.
For updates about the city council election, go to georgetown.org.
Georgetown calls $90M mobility bond for May 1 election
The City of Georgetown has called a bond election for Tuesday, May 1, 2021. Voters will consider one bond proposition for various street and transportation infrastructure projects. This election is being held in conjunction with the May General Election for local offices and propositions for other taxing entities, including City Council districts 1 and 5.
The total amount of the bond proposition is $90 million in new funding authorizations. If voters approve Proposition A, the City anticipates raising the property tax rate by 3 cents once the bonds are issued to cover the full cost of the projects. The average Georgetown resident could expect their annual property taxes to increase by $83.40, based on the average homestead taxable value in 2020 of $278,001. The City expects to start work on the projects within seven years, economic conditions permitting.
The anticipated 3-cent tax rate increase would generate an estimated $120 million during the life of the bond, which is the total amount required to complete the projects. The additional $30 million generated by the tax increase would go toward completing work on related projects from the 2008 and 2015 bonds that were approved by voters but never funded.
The projects included in Proposition A on the ballot May 1 are as follows:
Project 1: SE Inner Loop | Anticipated $32 million
This 2.91-mile project consists of widening SE Inner Loop to a four-lane, divided, minor arterial from SH 29 to Sam Houston Avenue and to a five-lane, undivided, major arterial from Sam Houston Avenue to FM 1460. The project also includes a shared-use path for pedestrians and bicycles on one side. This project will include engineering and right-of-way acquisition scopes of work from the 2015 bond.
Project 2: Shell Road |Anticipated $12.5 million
This 1.12-mile project consists of widening Shell Road to a four-lane, divided, major arterial from 500 feet north of Williams Drive to 300 feet north of Sycamore Street, with open-ditch drainage. The project also includes a shared-use path for pedestrians and bicycles on one side. This project will include engineering and right-of-way acquisition scopes of work from the 2015 bond.
Project 3: Williams Drive| Anticipated $10.2 million
This 3.18-mile project consists of replacing the existing center turn lane on Williams Drive with a landscaped median, with median openings and left turn bays at limited locations, to create a four-lane divided roadway from DB Wood Road to IH 35. In addition, the project will fill existing sidewalk gaps and repair failing sidewalks. This project will include engineering and right-of-way acquisition scopes of work from the 2015 bond.
Project 4: D.B. Wood Road | Anticipated $18.9 million
This 1.99-mile project consists widening the existing two-lane section of D.B. Wood Road to a four-lane, major arterial with open ditch drainage and a shared-use path for pedestrians and bicycles on one side. This project also includes installing a median in the existing center turn lane south of the Public Safety Center. This project will include engineering and right-of-way acquisition scopes of work from the 2015 bond.
Project 5: Leander Road | Anticipated $7.7 million
This 0.69-mile project consists of widening Leander Road to a four-lane, divided, major arterial from Southwest Bypass to Norwood Drive with open ditch drainage. This project will also include a grass median and sidewalks on both sides of the road. This project will include work from the 2015 bond.
Project 6: Austin Avenue Bridges | Anticipated $10.2 million
This proposition would provide funding to rehabilitate the bridges on Austin Avenue and construct a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the north and south forks of the San Gabriel River. The new pedestrian and bicycle bridge would cost $3.8 million of the total estimated cost to construct.
Project 7: Rockride Lane| Anticipated $5.8 million
This project consists of widening Rockride Lane from SE Inner Loop to Sam Houston Avenue to a two-lane collector road with a center turn lane, on-street bike lanes on the shoulders, and sidewalks on both sides of the road.
Project 8: Westinghouse Road | Anticipated $8.2 million
This project is a partnership between the City of Georgetown and Williamson County that would fully reconstruct the two-lane section of Westinghouse Road from FM 1460 to SH 130. This project includes improving shoulders and removing 90-degree turns.
Voters approved this project in the 2019 Williamson County bond. The total project cost is $20.2 million. City would contribute $8.2 million, primarily to improve shoulders on the two-lane section of the road. This cost roughly corresponds to the portion of the extension in the City limits, relative to the full project length.
Project 9: Sam Houston Avenue Extension / SE 1 / Wilco Corridor C | Anticipated $4 million
This 2008 bond project would provide the City’s portion of funding to extend Sam Houston Avenue (initially designated Southeast Arterial 1) as a two-lane road from Patriot Way to SH 29.
Voters approved this $22.5 million project in the 2019 Williamson County bond. The City’s $4 million contribution roughly corresponds to the portion of the extension in the City limits, relative to the full project length. Other funding sources for SE1 include Williamson County and the City’s 0.5 percent 4B sales tax associated with the Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation (GTEC).
Allocations for other transportation infrastructure | Anticipated $10.45 million
The City of Georgetown 2021 Mobility Bond aims to increase roadway capacities and create new, safe connections within and among communities. In addition to the proposed roadway projects, a portion of bond dollars will be allocated to additional infrastructure projects including bicycle facilities, sidewalks, intersection improvements, and transportation technology upgrades. Funding would go toward priority projects identified in both the Sidewalks and Bicycle master plans, as well as prioritized intersections and corridors. Authorization from the 2015 bond could be used for sidewalk and intersection work.
Bond background
In July 2020, City Council created a 16-member Citizen Advisory Committee to narrow down a list of projects for the bond program that address Georgetown’s overall transportation challenges, limit the burden to taxpayers, and reflect the public priorities. The advisory committee spent six months reviewing and evaluating 23 possible bond projects with an estimated total cost of more than $400 million. In January 2021, the Citizen Advisory Committee provided Council with rankings of the top 10 roadway projects and allocations for sidewalks, bicycle facilities, intersections, and transportation technology. The committee’s recommendations were informed by two rounds of public engagement.
For more information about Mobility Georgetown Bond 2021, visit bonds.georgetown.org.