.png)
Award winners announced in Texas Society of Sculptors Annual Summer Show
The Texas Society of Sculptors announced the award winners for its 13th Annual Summer Show at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St., on Aug. 15. A video of the award presentations, including views of the winning pieces, is available at library.georgetown.org/tsos-awards.
Library Director Sally Miculek presented the Librarians’ Choice and People’s Choice awards. She then introduced the awards juror for the summer sculpture show: Graeme Durant, assistant curator at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum.
Durant presented the awards for first, second, and third places, as well as three honorable mentions.
Award winners are:
People’s Choice: “And He Did Ride” by Ronnie Wells
Librarians’ Choice: “Carol’s Bouquet” by Ken Law
First Place: “Rapunzel’s Tower Under the Full Moon” by Valérie Chaussonnet
Second Place: “1.618” by Evan Horne
Third Place: “Pirate’s Woman” by James R. Woodruff
Honorable mention: “Ready for Takeoff” by Dar Richardson
Honorable mention: “Jave” by Ken Law
Honorable mention: “Laugh, You Jester. You Are Not Allowed to Cry” by Czes Sornat
Each award is accompanied by a cash prize. The Georgetown Arts and Culture Board provided a total of $2,200 to fund the awards.
The Texas Society of Sculptors 13th Summer Sculpture Show in the Georgetown Public Library lasts through Sept. 17. This exhibit, hosted by the library with sponsorship from the City of Georgetown Arts and Culture Board, features 78 works of sculpture by 40 artists.
“The Georgetown Public Library offers an excellent environment for viewing art, most of which are available for purchase,” Miculek said. “We are thrilled to once again have this exhibit and hope even more library patrons will come visit to see these stunning pieces while they’re still in our community.”
For more information about this year’s exhibit and events, contact Technical Services Librarian Dana Hendrix at dana.hendrix@georgetown.org or TSOS Exhibit Coordinator Linda Wilde at lzorawilde@gmail.com.
Candidates set for Nov. 2 election
The filing period for the special election on Nov. 2 for the District 6 City Council seat ended at 5 p.m. Aug. 16.
Candidates include Jake French and Chere Heintzmann.
To see maps of council districts, go to maps.georgetown.org/council-district-maps.
The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 2 election is Oct. 4.
Early in-person voting is Oct. 18-29. In the early voting period, voters may cast ballots at any early voting location in Williamson County. Early voting polling places, dates, and times will be listed at wilco.org/elections.
On Election Day on Nov. 2, voters may cast ballots at any vote center location in Williamson County. Polling places, dates, and times will be listed at wilco.org/elections.
For details about the city election, go to government.georgetown.org/city-secretary/elections.
City making final push to help people affected by COVID-19 pay residential utility bills
The City of Georgetown still has more than $900,000 in funding available to help residential utility customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic pay their utility bills. Anyone whose income has been affected since the start of the pandemic may qualify for assistance.
The COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program offers up to $1,500 to residential utility customers who have past due balances and can show their income or employment has been affected by the pandemic or any resulting restrictions. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 30. Financial assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis while funds last.
Assistance is available to all qualifying City of Georgetown utility customers, including those who live in the extraterritorial jurisdiction. Customers who received assistance in 2020 may still qualify for additional assistance.
“We realize some of our neighbors need support and might not have other resources available to them,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “If you need assistance paying your bill, please let us know. We are here to help as many people as we can.”
City Council authorized $1 million in May 2020 to aid customers affected by the pandemic who don’t qualify for other, low-income assistance programs. Only 10 percent of the COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program will go toward people who qualify for other assistance. Funding for the program comes from unanticipated income and special revenues in both our water and electric utilities. As of July 23, the City has provided $84,396.79 to help a total of 217 customers.
The City has partnered with Opportunities of Williamson and Budget Counties to administer the program. OWBC manages several assistance programs throughout the area.
More information about the program and applications are available on OWBC’s website or by calling Customer Care at 512-930-3460.
City asks for residents’ feedback about next year’s budget
The City of Georgetown is asking the public to share comments on the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget through an online comment box, which will be up through Sept. 5. Members of the public also can attend any of the public hearings through the budget adoption process. Public comments and feedback will be provided to City Council for its Sept. 14 meeting, during which the council is scheduled to hold public hearings and first readings of both the tax rate and the budget.
The proposed budget totals $483 million and decreases the City’s property tax rate by 1.7 cents (from 41.8 cents per $100 valuation to 40.1 cents). This is the second year in a row the City has proposed reducing the property tax rate, maintaining the City’s rate as the lowest of all cities in the Austin area with a population greater than 20,000. Council also recently voted to increase the homestead exemption to the greater of $5,000 or 3 percent, contributing to $370,000 in additional taxpayer relief. However, because property values in Georgetown increased 15.4 percent, the average homeowner in Georgetown is expected to pay $56 more in property taxes in the upcoming year.
“We anticipated and budgeted for an economic slowdown last year, but we actually saw considerable acceleration,” City Manager David Morgan said. “Next year’s preliminary budget continues our usual practices of budgeting conservatively and taking steps to reduce the burden on taxpayers while investing in the additional resources needed to keep up with our sustained, exponential growth. This preliminary budget is just the first step in the budget process. I hope residents will check out our website to learn more and share their feedback, so we can fund programs and services that meet their needs and priorities.”
The City of Georgetown budget affects every resident in the city. How the City allocates taxpayer dollars and monthly costs as utility customers determines the level of service customers get in return for City functions, such as providing electricity, drinking water, resources to respond to emergencies, well-maintained streets, a world-class library, and accessible trails.
City staff used the results of recent public feedback opportunities, including the 2020 resident survey and council goals, to develop a preliminary version of next year’s budget, which spans Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022. Staff presented the preliminary budget to City Council on July 26, and the council continued the discussion during its July 27 workshop. The workshops gave the council a chance to weigh options and provide direction so staff could come back Aug. 10 with a proposed budget that reflects their feedback as well.
Major themes of the proposed budget are investing in transportation and utility infrastructure, public safety, and customer services, as well as providing the staffing, equipment, and software needed for record-setting growth and development. Adequately funding those priorities—particularly transportation and water capital improvement projects ($90 million), public safety investments, and staffing and resources needed to maintain service levels during Georgetown’s sustained period of high growth—contributed to the preliminary budget being $87 million (or 18 percent) more than the current fiscal year’s budget of $396 million.
For more information about the annual budget process and details and documents about the preliminary FY2022 budget, visit finance.georgetown.org.
Budget adoption timeline
July 26 & 27: Council budget workshops
Aug. 10: First presentation of the full budget; City Council sets maximum tax rate and public hearing dates
Sept. 5: Comments on draft budget close (see form online)
Sept. 14: Public hearings and first reading of both the tax rate and the budget
Sept. 28: Second reading and final adoption of the tax rate and budget
Watch school zones as classes start on Aug. 19
The first day of classes for schools in Georgetown ISD is Thursday, Aug. 19. The Georgetown Police Department reminds drivers to slow down in school zones. As students go back to school, police will be monitoring school zones throughout the city.
“This is an exciting time of year, and we look forward to welcoming students and families back to campuses throughout the district,” Superintendent Fred Brent said. “Help us ensure they arrive safely each day by reducing speeds in school zones.”
Look for the school zones at most of these Georgetown ISD schools:
- Carver Elementary, 4901 Scenic Lake Drive
- Cooper Elementary, 1921 NE Inner Loop
- Ford Elementary, 210 Woodlake Drive
- Frost Elementary, 711 Lakeway Drive
- McCoy Elementary, 401 Bellaire Drive
- Mitchell Elementary, 1601 Rockride Lane
- Purl Elementary, 1953 Maple St.
- Village Elementary, 400 Village Commons
- Williams Elementary, 4101 Southwestern Blvd.
- Wolf Ranch Elementary, 1201 Jay Wolf Drive
- Benold Middle School, 3407 Northwest Blvd.
- Forbes Middle School, 1911 NE Inner Loop
- Tippit Middle School, 1601 Leander Road
- Wagner Middle School, 1621 Rockride Lane
- East View High School, 4490 E. University Ave.
- Georgetown High School, 2211 N. Austin Ave.
- Georgetown Alternative Program, 502 Patriot Way
- Richarte High School, 2295 N. Austin Ave.
- Williamson County Academy/Lott Juvenile Detention Center, 200 Wilco Way
School zone speed limits are in effect during the posted hours or when yellow lights are flashing. The school zones times are approximately 7-9 a.m. for before-school times and 2:30-4:30 p.m. for after-school hours. The fine for speeding in a school zone is $10 per mile over the limit, plus state court costs. This would mean a $100 fine plus $159 in state court costs for driving 30 mph in a 20-mph zone, for example.
State law prohibits the use of a wireless communication device in a school zone during the posted hours or when yellow lights are flashing.
City Council calls City Charter amendments election for Nov. 2
City of Georgetown voters will have the chance to vote on amendments to the City’s charter during the Nov. 2 election. City Council called the election during its Aug. 10 meeting.
The City Charter is the legal document establishing a municipality and defines the structure, powers, functions, and procedures of local government.
City Staff and members of the council-appointed Charter Review Committee identified several potential charter amendments, which were presented to the council at its May 25 workshop for discussion and direction from City Council. Council direction was sent back to the committee for consideration and to be drafted into a final report that outlined the committee’s recommendations to the council.
The proposed amendments include changes related to:
- Term limits
- Council qualifications
- Council vacancies
- Rules of procedures
- Procedures to enact legislation
- Franchise agreement notifications
- Public lead initiative, referendum, and recall requirements
- City structure language
Details of the proposed amendments can be found at Georgetown.org/2021-charter-amendment-election.
The last day to register to vote for the November election is Oct. 4.
Early in-person voting is Oct. 18-29. Early voting and Election Day polling places, dates, and times will be listed at wilco.org/elections.
Georgetown residents invited learn about Parks and Recreation Master Plan survey results
Georgetown residents are invited to hear the results of public feedback about the Parks and Recreation Master Plan in a public forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, in the Council Chambers, 510 W. Ninth St. Residents also can participate virtually via Zoom.
“We want to make sure this 10-year plan reflects the priorities of our community,” Parks and Recreation Director Kimberly Garrett said. “This public forum is a chance for our residents to learn what we heard from them and to provide any other additional feedback and ask questions before we enter the plan-development phase.”
The presentation will include results from the mailed and open surveys, data collection from facility and park inventories, and other project analysis. The survey was mailed to a random sampling of 4,000 Georgetown households to collect statistically valid results. An open-link survey gave all residents an opportunity to provide feedback as well. While the open-link survey results were kept separate from the statistically valid answers, these responses also provided valuable feedback.
The Georgetown Parks and Recreation team has been working for the last few months to develop a 10-year master plan to determine where the City’s parks can grow, how officials can expand park programs, and better ways serve the community. When completed, the master plan will create a blueprint for where Georgetown Parks and Recreation can improve, how it can grow responsibly, and what programs and recreational activities the Georgetown community needs. The City has contracted GreenPlay LLC to lead the project, with RRC Associates performing the survey and data work.
For more information about the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and instructions for the public forum, visit gtxparkplan.com. The presentation will be published there after the meeting. GreenPlay will present a draft plan to City Council later this fall.
National Night Out on Oct. 5
National Night Out, an annual event to support safe neighborhoods, is on Tuesday, Oct. 5, in Georgetown. Block parties are being organized from 6 to 9 p.m.
Last year, National Night Out block parties were held virtually due to the pandemic. This year, as block party activities return throughout Georgetown, the City encourages residents to continue to physically distance and use proper hand hygiene to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
If your neighborhood is hosting a block party and would like Georgetown Police Department officers, other local law enforcement officers, elected officials, Georgetown firefighters and EMS technicians, or other City employees to attend, please register by Sept. 16.
The Georgetown Police Department is hosting a reception for hosts of NNO block parties 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B. Wood Road.
For details about National Night Out in Georgetown and to register your block party, go to pd.georgetown.org/national-night-out.
Public invited to cast ballots for People’s Choice Award in library sculpture exhibit
For 13 years, Georgetown Public Library has hosted the Texas Society of Sculptors’ annual summer show. The competitive, juried exhibit is a popular tradition in Georgetown that includes sculptures throughout the building on both the first and second floors. Participating sculptors from across the state work in wood, glass, bronze, ceramics, and more. Most pieces in the exhibit are available for purchase.
This year’s exhibit opened Sunday, June 20, and lasts through Friday, Sept. 17. The show includes a People’s Choice Award decided by library visitors, who cast votes for their favorite three pieces out of the 78 pieces in the show. To cast a vote, pick up a ballot in the library’s lobby and place it in the ballot box no later than 5 p.m. Saturday, July 31. The sculptor of the piece with the most votes will be awarded the People’s Choice Award and a cash prize.
Prizes determined by this year’s exhibit juror, Graeme Durant, curatorial assistant at Umlauf Sculpture Garden + Museum, include first, second, and third place, as well as three honorable mentions. These will be announced Aug. 15, in addition to the People’s Choice and Librarians’ Choice awards. Prizes are funded by the City of Georgetown Arts and Culture Board.
The library will also host a sculpture demonstration featuring several of this year’s sculptors demonstrating various techniques and processes. The free event will be held in the library lobby, 402 W. Eighth St., from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11.
For more information about this year’s exhibit and events, contact Technical Services Librarian Dana Hendrix at dana.hendrix@georgetown.org or TSOS Exhibit Coordinator Linda Wilde at lzorawilde@gmail.com.
City to host household hazardous waste event Sept. 15
The City will host a free household hazardous waste collection event from 3-6 p.m. Sept. 15 at the old show barn site in San Gabriel Park, 425 E. Morrow St.
The event will be available for up to 300 Georgetown solid waste customers who have solid waste service through Texas Disposal Systems. Customers must contact Customer Care at 512-930-3640 or customercare@georgetown.org to have their name placed on a list. Please include your name, address, and utility account number when emailing customer care. Customers must have their name on the list to participate.
Residents must remain in their vehicles during the no-contact collection. Staff will unload items from the back seat or trunk of the vehicle.
All items to be dropped off must be in their marked original containers. Commercial disposal and trailers are not allowed.
Acceptable items include:
- Batteries (household, hearing aids, cell phone, etc.)
- Automobile batteries
- Pool and spa chemicals
- Used oil/oil filters (up to five gallons per vehicle)
- Transmission fluid
- Light bulbs (including regular, compact, and four-foot fluorescent)
- Grease
- Thermometers
- Over the counter, residential lawn and garden chemicals
- Aerosols
- Household cleaners and disinfectants marked caution, warning, or poison
- Art and hobby chemicals
- Paint (up to 10 gallons per vehicle)
- Over the counter one-pound disposal propane bottles
- Gasoline (up to five gallons per vehicle)
Unacceptable items include:
- Unmarked containers or unknown chemicals
- Construction, commercial, or landscape waste
- Professional, concentrated chemicals that require a professional license to mix
- Medications or pharmaceuticals
- Oxygen tanks
- Electronics
- Tires
- Explosives (including ammunition and fireworks)
- Radioactive materials
- Biological materials
Additional household hazardous waste collection events are being planned for 2021.
For more information about the City’s solid waste and recycling services, visit recycle.georgetown.org.
Williamson County will also host a household hazardous waste collection event open to all county residents this fall. Once finalized, information will be available by calling 512-759-8881, option 4, or visiting https://bit.ly/3648ZYX.
