City of Georgetown offices and facilities will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, and Monday, Dec. 26, in observance of the Christmas holiday. City offices also will be closed on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in observance of the New Year’s holiday.

City facilities and offices closed Dec. 23, 26, and Jan. 2 include the following:

• 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.
• Parks and Recreation Administration, 1101 N. College St.
• Planning Department, 809 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
• Public Safety Operations and Training Center, Police Records and Fire Support Services offices, 3500 D.B. Wood Road

Additional closures

City of Georgetown facilities with weekend or evening hours will observe these closures:

• Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive: Closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1
• Animal Shelter, 110 W.L. Walden Drive: Closed Dec. 23-26, and Jan. 1-2
• Art Center, 816 S. Main St.: Closed Dec. 23-26, and Jan. 1-2
• Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive: Will close at noon Dec. 24, closed Dec. 25, and closing at noon Dec. 31
• Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243: Closed Dec. 24-25
• Grace Heritage Center, 817 S. Main St.: Closed Dec. 23 and 30
• Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.: Closed Dec. 23-26 and Jan. 1-2, and closing early at 6 p.m. Dec. 19-22 and 27-30.
• Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.: Closed Dec. 24-25, closes early at 6 p.m. Dec. 31, and closed Jan. 1
• Tennis Center, 400 Serenada Drive: Closed Dec. 24-25, closes early at 6 p.m. Dec. 31, and closed Jan. 1
• Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St: Closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1-2

 Solid waste and recycling collection

The holidays will not affect solid waste and recycling pickups, because Christmas Day and New Year’s Day both fall on a Sunday. To look up your collection day, visit texasdisposal.com/waste-wizard.

For questions about solid waste and recycling collection, call TDS at 512-930-1715.

GoGeo paratransit services

GoGeo paratransit will not operate Friday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 2

Personal fireworks prohibited

By City of Georgetown ordinance, fireworks are not allowed in the city limits of Georgetown or within 5,000 feet of the city limits, unless they are used in a permitted display authorized by the Georgetown Fire Department. A new ordinance change approved in October allows the homeowner or host to be held liable for a fireworks violation on their property in addition to the person who discharged the fireworks.

Violations can lead to fines of up to $2,000 per firework. To view a map showing the 5,000-foot boundary, go to

https://gis.wilco.org/maps/?viewer=countymapxdev.

To view firework exemptions permissible by City code, visit https://bit.ly/2CSOnIg.

Fireworks can be triggering for veterans and pets

Please remember that loud noises such as fireworks can be triggering for our veterans.

Fireworks also can be upsetting for pets. Please make sure your dog(s) is secure inside your home, particularly during the evenings of the holiday weekend. Georgetown animal control officers pick up several loose dogs around the Fourth of July and New Year’s holidays, many of whom are never reunited with their owners.

If your dog has a tendency to become anxious at loud noises, please consider staying home with the animal; playing music in the house to drown out the noise of fireworks; and/or buying a product that “hugs” the dog. Your veterinarian also may be able to provide a tranquilizer for the dog.

For more ideas on keeping your dog safe on these holidays, please see the article, “10 Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips.”

Georgetown Downtown and Tourism Director Kim McAuliffe and Finance Director Leigh Wallace graduated from the 2022 Texas Women’s Leadership Institute.

McAuliffe and Wallace were selected from a competitive field of local government professionals from throughout the State of Texas. They were two of 20 female executives who were chosen to participate in a program designed to prepare and inspire women to become city managers in Texas.

“Leigh and Kim are outstanding leaders in our community and city organization,” City Manager David Morgan said. “I appreciate their commitment to grow and the Texas City Management Association’s prioritization to support this important program.”

McAuliffe has been with the City of Georgetown for five and a half years. She leads the team responsible for downtown development, arts & culture, and the Convention & Visitors Bureau. Wallace has been the finance director in Georgetown for six years. She leads the teams responsible for the budget, procurement, accounting, fleet services, and municipal court.

McAuliffe and Wallace participated in course discussions, tours, and in-person sessions, completed assigned books, and were introduced to the female leaders in the Texas city management profession. The combination of leadership assessments, tours, and case studies provides a well-rounded experience in learning more about the intricacies of the city management profession and creating a network of colleagues who will support each other in the future.

The Texas Women’s Leadership Institute was created by Texas Women Leading Government to increase the number of women who are ready to become city managers. The program is financially supported by the Texas City Management Association and is part of a national trend of academies addressing the lack of female representation in the chief executive role in cities across Texas.

Shoppers are invited to Shop Small, Shop Local with Georgetown merchants during the annual Small Business Saturday event Saturday, Nov. 26.

Holiday shoppers and visitors are encouraged to celebrate the season and support a small business by shopping at locally owned businesses. Participating retailers and restaurants will have specials and discounts available.

The kick-off event will be held from 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 26 at the Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St. A free canvas tote bag and refreshments will be given to shoppers while supplies last.

The annual Small Business Saturday event is sponsored by the Georgetown Main Street Program, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Georgetown Association.

For more information, visit mainstreet.georgetown.org/shop-small.

Many City facilities will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. Click here for a full list of closures and information about other events, including Community Thanksgiving and Lighting of the Square.

Final unofficial election results from the Williamson County Elections Department for the City of Georgetown election on Nov. 8, 2022. Early vote totals included.

To see complete Nov. 8 election results, go to wilco.org/elections.

Votes will be canvassed at the regular City Council meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

GoGeo, the City’s limited paratransit service, now is available to Georgetown residents age 65 and older.

Georgetown residents age 65 and older can request curb-to-curb service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Eligible riders will pay $2 per trip and are required to make a reservation by 4 p.m. the previous day either through the City website or by calling 512-478-RIDE (7433).

City Council elected to expand the services to include residents age 65 and older during a workshop session on June 28, 2022.

“The City of Georgetown remains committed to providing exceptional services where they are needed,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “The council recognizes the need for our residents to access services, such as healthcare and shopping, and we know this service will help us meet the needs of our residents, particularly those with disabilities or our older residents who would need a ride.”

The City’s limited paratransit service, which is operated by Capital Area Rural Transportation System, or CARTS, as a subcontractor for CapMetro, currently serves 321 customers. The limited paratransit service is available to people with disabilities. Eligibility and screening for limited paratransit services is provided, through a paper application, by the CARTS. Georgetown residents age 65 and older can simply call CARTS at 512-478-RIDE (7433) to complete an intake form.

This year, the City will provide two vehicles for curb-to-curb GoGeo services. The cost for limited paratransit and 65 and older service is estimated at $575,753. The City will pay $345,452, and the remaining cost would be covered through a match from the Federal Transit Administration.

CARTS’ Interurban Coach bus service between Georgetown and Austin will continue. The bus picks up passengers from two stops in Georgetown, at Ninth and Main streets and 3620 S. Austin Ave., twice a day Monday through Friday and has several stops on the way to and in Austin, including University Oaks, Tech Ridge Park & Ride, and Austin Greyhound.

For more information about the GoGeo program, visit gogeo.georgetown.org.

The City of Georgetown’s Public Works Department received a 2022 Municipal Excellence Award for its Downtown Ambassador Program from the Texas Municipal League in early October.

The program, initiated in November 2020 with the help of contractor Texas Disposal System, helps keep the Square clean by removing litter, emptying decorative sidewalk trash containers, cleaning up around dumpsters, and providing extra collection of the dumpsters when needed.

“The Georgetown Square is the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas, and we want to make sure it lives up to that moniker,” City Manager David Morgan said. “By partnering in the Downtown Ambassador Program, the City and Texas Disposal Systems are dedicated to maintaining a clean and healthy environment for our residents and visitors to enjoy.”

The Municipal Excellence Awards recognizes cities in Texas for their work meeting the challenges of municipal governance. The ambassador program was recognized for its innovative problem-solving, excellence in management, and reaching toward higher service levels.

City of Georgetown offices and facilities will be closed Friday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day. There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection Nov. 11.

Click here for more information about the annual Veterans Day Ceremony in Sun City and the Field of Honor in San Gabriel Park.

City offices closed Nov. 11

The City offices and facilities closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day include the following:

• Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive
• 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. The library will be closed Nov. 7- 10 for inventory.
• 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

• 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 8 p.m.

GoGeo paratransit bus service

There will be service Friday, Nov. 11.

Recycling and solid waste

There will be regular recycling and solid waste collection for City of Georgetown customers on Friday, Nov. 11. 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.