City of Georgetown Texas

OCT. 29, 2020–Outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people and special events are allowed in the city limits of Georgetown, provided attendees and organizers adhere to a local order issued by Mayor Dale Ross. The order is effective immediately and is in response to and in accordance with orders issued by Gov. Greg Abbott.

“We recognize the good people of Georgetown want to get back to some form of normalcy after months of quarantine and closures, and we believe we’ve optimized a way for people to gather while still keeping our community safe and our hospitalizations low,” Mayor Dale Ross said. “The success and longevity of these orders hinge on two very important factors: Compliance and hospitalization rates. I am confident our neighbors will adhere to these safety precautions, which are aimed at minimizing hospitalization rates and ensuring we have an adequate number of hospital beds. Georgetown, like many communities, will continue to monitor and adapt our COVID-19 medical protocols to keep our citizens as safe as possible.”

The order allows outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people in the city limits provided all attendees, including employees and vendors, wear face coverings over their nose and mouth wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of distance from people outside their household.

Events requiring a Special Event Permit now will be required to develop, implement, and post Health and Safety Policies detailing the steps the organizer is taking to reduce the risks of spreading COVID-19. The policy must at least require all attendees, including employees and vendors, to wear face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of distance from people outside their household. Policies also should specify other safety measures, such as taking temperatures or performing health screenings. An example of a health and safety policy is available on the City’s website.

Both outdoor gatherings and special events must comply with other existing orders. This includes Gov. Abbott’s executive orders (GA-29, 30, 32, and any future orders) which speak to occupancy limits and triggers for changing responses based on hospitalizations. It also includes Georgetown’s local order issued July 3, 2020, that requires all people age 10 and older in Georgetown wear face coverings while in public, with some exceptions.

Enforcement 

While the City will prioritize education, both the State and local orders allow for fines to be assessed for violations of gathering orders.

Individuals who believe the orders are being violated by individuals or businesses in Georgetown can report it to the Georgetown Police Department’s non-emergency number: 512-930-3510.

Event organizers found in violation of the order, including failure to post a health and safety policy, may be given a citation and fined up to $1,000 per offense. Individuals found in violation will be given a verbal warning upon first offense and a fine of up to $250 per additional violation.

If an event or business has a customer who is unwilling to abide by the order, the business can ask the individual to leave. If they refuse to leave, the business can call the police department’s non-emergency number and officers will respond. No one can be jailed for violating gathering orders, but if an individual who refuses to comply refuses to leave the premises of the event or business, the individual may be arrested and charged with criminal trespassing.

For more information and updates, visit bit.ly/COVID19GTX.

Georgetown’s Director of Water Utilities Glenn Dishong has announced his retirement from his position effective Dec. 18, 2020.

“Glenn has embodied hard work, optimism, and outstanding problem solving during his career with the City,” City Manager David Morgan said. “He’s been a pillar in the city for nearly two decades. His contributions to this community are countless, and he will be greatly missed.”

Dishong came to the City of Georgetown in 2002 as the water services manager.  In 2010, he became the utility director, with responsibility for utility operations encompassing electric, water, and wastewater services. After a reorganization of the utility in 2019, he became the director of water utilities. He is a 1980 graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering. In addition to being a former U.S. Navy submarine officer, he has more than 30 years of experience in utility operations and management, including both water and electric utilities.

“My 18 years with the City have been the most rewarding of my 40-year career leading and managing people in the business of providing essential utility services, Dishong said. “While I turn loose the responsibility of leading a fabulous group of people, I look forward to keeping the relationships into the future.”

Dishong has been involved in numerous community activities, including service as president of the Texas Municipal Utility Association, as vice president of Georgetown Summer Swim Association, as senior warden of Grace Episcopal Church, and as a member on both the Texas Municipal League and the United Way of Williamson County boards.

While in Georgetown, Dishong and his wife, Nancy, started their family by adopting two children from Russia. With one now married to a Navy medic and the other in college, they look forward to the next phase of their journey, which hopefully includes car and motorcycle restoration and lots of travel.

“His vision and leadership were key to the City’s successful management of growth in the water utility,” Assistant City Manager Laurie Brewer said. “His list of accomplishments is exhaustive, and it includes the acquisition of the Chisholm Trail Special Utility District, implementation of advanced metering infrastructure, and a conservation program for the summer peak water demand.”

The recruitment process for a director of water utilities will begin in November, with the goal of hiring a new director after the first of the year. Director responsibilities will be divided among existing staff until a permanent selection has been made.

The last day of early in-person voting for the November election is Friday, Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through early voting and on Election Day.

Polling places and polling place wait times for the early in-person voting period and on Election Day are listed at wilco.org/elections. Voter ID information can be found at wilco.org/Departments/Elections/Voting-in-Person.

A voter may hand-deliver their own mail ballot to the County Elections office only during business hours with a photo ID. There is no drop box for mail ballots in Williamson County. If you have a mail ballot, but change your mind and want to vote in-person, you can surrender your mail ballot at a polling site and will be given an in-person ballot.

The municipal election for the City of Georgetown includes candidates for mayor and the District 2 and District 6 city council seats.

The deadline to request a mail ballot is Friday, Oct. 23. The form must be received at the County Elections office by 5 p.m. that day.

According to state law for the Nov. 3 election, a voter may hand-deliver their own mail ballot to the County Elections office only during business hours with a photo ID. There is no drop box for mail ballots in Williamson County.

If you have a mail ballot, but change your mind and want to vote in-person, you can surrender your mail ballot at a polling site and will be given an in-person ballot.

Early in-person voting for the November election continues through Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Polling places, dates, times, and polling place wait times for the early in-person voting period and on Election Day are listed at wilco.org/elections.

The municipal election on Nov. 3 for the City of Georgetown includes candidates for mayor and the District 2 and District 6 city council seats.

The I-35 mainlanes north of Williams Drive in Georgetown will close nightly Oct. 19-20 to allow crews to set bridge beams for the Northwest Boulevard bridge. All work is weather permitting.

Starting at 10 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19, one northbound I-35 mainlane and the Williams Drive entrance ramp will close to traffic. As beams are being placed, all northbound  mainlanes will close to traffic for 20-minute intervals. Work is expected to be complete by 5 a.m.

At 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, the southbound I-35 mainlanes will close, and all traffic will detour to the southbound I-35 frontage road at the Williams Drive exit. Southbound I-35 will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m.

On Wednesday night, Oct. 21, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., the I-35 southbound frontage road will close intermittently to allow for beam placements.

Road signs have been placed to alert drivers of the closures. Please use extra caution when traveling through the area.

The Northwest Boulevard bridge will be a new east-west connection spanning I-35 and an alternative to Williams Drive. The project connects Rivery Boulevard to the west and FM 971 to the east and is scheduled to be complete in early 2021.