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City hosts Austin Avenue Bridges Project open house (postponed)
Update, March 15: This open house has been postponed due to concerns about Coronavirus in the region.
The City of Georgetown will host a final open house to present proposed improvements to Austin Avenue from Second to Morrow streets from 4-7 p.m. March 26 at Georgetown City Hall.
This open house will give the public the opportunity to visit with project team members, review design schematics and a rendering and give input on the Austin Avenue plans.
Open House details
4- 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 26
Georgetown City Hall
808 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
Georgetown, TX 78626
Project materials are available online now as a Virtual Open House at on the Transportation website.
The public may submit comments regarding the proposed improvements in writing by April 12. Comments can be mailed to the Austin Avenue Bridges Project at P.O. Box 409, Georgetown, TX 78627, or emailed to austinave@georgetown.org.
The proposed improvements for Austin Avenue include rehabilitating the existing bridges and maintaining the railings, constructing a new pedestrian bridge to the east, and constructing sidewalks on the east and west sides of the bridge at the San Gabriel Village Boulevard and Second Street intersections. A 10-foot sidewalk will be constructed on the east side of Austin Avenue, and a 6-foot sidewalk will be constructed on the west side of Austin Avenue.
The City has been studying and planning for potential improvements to Austin Avenue since 2016 and has followed the National Environmental Policy Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act through its design process.
Since the project began in 2016, the City received significant public input during four public meetings and evaluated five alternatives:
- No build option;
- Build on a new location;
- Rehabilitation with a pedestrian bridge;
- Rehabilitation with widening; and
- Full replacement options.
For more information on the project, visit on the Transportation website.
Pop into Spring Teen Party at Georgetown Recreation Center
Georgetown Parks and Recreation hosts its Pop into Spring Teen Party for teenagers ages 12-15 on March 13 at the Georgetown Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.
The party is from 1:30-4:30 p.m. and will include pizza, drinks, snacks, games, music, and door prizes.
The event is free for recreation center members or $5 for nonmembers.
Visit parks.georgetown.org for more information.
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension offers rain barrel class March 26
The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension is offering a DIY rain barrel class form 6-8 p.m. March 26 at the Williamson County offices, 3151 SE Inner Loop.
The class teaches the basics and benefits of rainwater harvesting and the effects storm water has on the environment. Participants will learn how to collect and use rainwater, as well as how to set up their own 55-gallon rain barrel.
To register for the class, participants must purchase a rain barrel for $50. Georgetown water customers may qualify to receive their rain barrel at no-charge, on a first-come, first-served basis. Addresses must be verified.
To purchase a rain barrel and register for the class, visit bit.ly/3c7AYcG or contact Tamaron Hunt at tamaron.hunt@ag.tamu.edu.
Highway 195 and Berry Creek Drive project starts
A construction project on State Highway 195 at Berry Creek Drive is set to begin this week. The project by the Texas Department of Transportation will improve safety by closing the existing crossover and rerouting turning traffic to new turnarounds and auxiliary lanes.
The $776,000 project includes the construction of a new auxiliary lane from I-35 to a new crossover located about 1200 feet north of the current Berry Creek crossover. A right-turn lane for Berry Creek Drive also will be constructed. Once complete, traffic wishing to turn left on Berry Creek Drive will U-turn at the new crossover and merge over to the new turn lane to access Berry Creek Drive. Berry Creek Drive traffic wishing to head north on SH 195, will turn right on SH 195 and use a new acceleration lane to merge with traffic and U-turn at a new crossover west of the I-35 frontage road. (See map.)
During construction, the existing crossover at Berry Creek Drive will remain open to traffic. Once construction of the new turnarounds is complete, traffic will be shifted and the old crossover will be removed.
The contractor for the project is Angel Brothers Construction. The project is expected to complete this summer.
Applications being accepted for new utility advisory boards
Applications to serve on the newly formed Georgetown Electric Utility Advisory and Georgetown Water Utility Advisory boards are now being accepted.
The deadline for individuals to apply is Friday, March 27. Applications will be reviewed and recommendations for appointment will be made by the mayor and approved at the council’s April 28 regular meeting.
The advisory boards will become active immediately following approval of the appointments. Eligibility requirements to serve on the board are included on the application.
For more information and to apply, visit government.georgetown.org/boards-and-commissions.
Senior Dance at Georgetown Community Center on Feb. 28
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a Senior Adult Dance from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at the Georgetown Community Center, 445 E. Morrow St.
The event is designed for, but not limited to, adults age 55 and older. Dress is casual and light refreshments will be served.
Advanced registration is encouraged. Tickets are $5 per person in advance through Monday, Feb. 24, and, $7 per person after that and at the door. Register online, in person at the Georgetown Recreation Center, or by contacting Robert Staton, recreation specialist for senior adults, at (512) 930-1367 or robert.staton@georgetown.org.
For more information, visit parks.georgetown.org/senior-adult-dance.
Candidates set for May 2 election
The municipal election on May 2 for the City of Georgetown will include candidates for mayor and the District 2 and District 6 city council seats. The filing deadline was Feb. 14 at 5 p.m.
Candidates for Mayor are Larry Brundidge, Jonathan Dade, and Josh Schroeder; candidates for District 2 are Shawn Hood, Lisa King, and Jason Wirth; and candidates for District 6 are Rachael Jonrowe (incumbent) and Michael Walton.
To see maps of council districts, go to maps.georgetown.org/council-district-maps.
The last day to register to vote in the May election is April 2.
Early in-person voting is April 20-28. 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 May 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.
Mark Chesnutt to headline Red Poppy Festival
This year the City of Georgetown celebrates the Red Poppy Festival with Saturday night headliner country music singer Mark Chesnutt.
Chesnutt’s No. 1 singles include “Brother Jukebox,” “I’ll Think of Something,” “It Sure is Monday,” and “I Just Wanted You to Know.”
This signature festival on the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas runs April 24-26 with live music, entertainment, family fun, food, and more than 120 arts and craft vendors.
The Friday night concert features Dysfunkshun Junkshun. Other festival highlights include the Red Poppy Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and the Car Show at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
The official 2020 Red Poppy Festival poster is on sale for $5 starting April 3 at the Visitors Center at 103 W. Seventh St. The poster artist, Aisling Kelleher, will be at the Visitors Center April 3 from 6-8 p.m. signing posters. The first 50 posters are free.
For all the details, go to RedPoppyFestival.com.
Library kicks off child development playshop series
The Georgetown Public Library is kicking off its next series of Family Place Playshops—Play, Learn, Grow! this spring.
These playshops are designed for children ages 12-36 months and their parents and caregivers, and gives parents and caregivers an opportunity to connect with other parents, talk one-on-one with local experts on various aspects of child development and early literacy, and play with their child.
The playshops are informal, play-based, and child-centered. Different resource professionals will be introduced each month. They will speak individually with parents and caregivers, and address questions and concerns they may have.
Playshops will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Feb. 19, March 25, April 22, and May 20. Pre-registration is not required.
Workshop topics include:
Feb. 19: Pediatrician
March 25: Speech and hearing
April 22: Nutrition and vision screening
May 20: Child development
For more information on Family Place at Georgetown Public Library, contact Children’s Services Librarian Bethni King at bethni.king@georgetown.org or (512) 931-7716.
Junior Police Academy applications now available
Applications for the Georgetown Police Department’s Junior Police Academy summer camps are now available. There will be a one-day registration event from 9 a.m.-noon March 28 at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 DB Wood Road.
The free summer camp is for Georgetown students ages 8 to 12 years old. During each session, junior cadets will be introduced to physical training, such as obstacle courses, self-defense tactics, hand-cuffing, marching, and rappelling.
Each session has 35 slots available, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Camps are Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Camp sessions are:
- June 8-11 (ages 8-10)
- June 15-18 (ages 10-12)
- June 29-July 2 (ages 8-10)
- July 13-16 (ages 10-12)
- July 20-23 (ages 10-12)
- July 27-July 30 (ages 8-10)
Visit pd.georgetown.org for more information.
