City of Georgetown offices and facilities will be closed Monday, Feb. 19, for Presidents’ Day. There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection.

City offices closed Feb. 19

The City offices and facilities closed Feb. 19 for Presidents’ Day include the following:

• 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.
• 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

• Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive
• 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 6 p.m.

GoGeo paratransit bus service

There will not be service Monday, Feb. 19.

Recycling and solid waste

There will be regular recycling and solid waste collection for City of Georgetown customers on Monday, Feb. 19. 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.

The first day to file for a place on the May 4 ballot for candidates who wish to run for the District 1 or 5 seats on the Georgetown City Council, is Wednesday, Jan. 17. The filing deadline is Friday, Feb. 16.

Completed applications for candidacy should be submitted at City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St. To see maps of council districts, go to this City Council District map.

Georgetown City Council members serve three-year terms representing one of seven, single-member districts. Candidates for City Council must be at least 21 years of age on the first day of the term of office, a citizen, and a qualified voter of the State of Texas and the City of Georgetown. Candidates for council district seats must be a resident of the council district the member would be representing for a period of 12 months preceding election day.

The last day to register to vote for the May election is April 4.

Early in-person voting is April 22-30. Election day is May 4. Early voting and election day polling places, dates, and times will be listed at wilcotx.gov/elections.

For details about the city election, go to government.georgetown.org/elections.

[Updated: 7 p.m. Jan. 14 ]

Temperatures are forecasted to dip below freezing for an extended amount of time early next week in Georgetown, according to the National Weather Service.

Beginning Sunday, Jan. 14, through Wednesday, Jan. 17, low temperatures are expected to be below freezing overnight with windchills near zero degrees. There is a slight chance for light freezing precipitation in the forecast.

Due to continued freezing temperatures, very high demand, and unseasonably low wind, ERCOT is asking Texans to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so, Monday, Jan. 15, from 6 – 10 a.m. CT. ERCOT is expecting similar conditions on Tuesday, Jan. 16, and will continue to closely monitor conditions and keep the public informed through their communication channels. See more at https://www.facebook.com/ERCOTISO. 

In preparation for the extreme cold, the City will close park restrooms and turn off water fountains to prevent damage to plumbing fixtures, as well as weatherizing the animal shelter and altering daily care of dogs to reduce time outside. The shelter is looking for fosters. If you are interested, please call 512-930-3592 or email animalsvc@georgetown.org.

Crews will also pretreat elevated roadways and bridges, and the City will continue to monitor the forecast and make changes as necessary.

Most City facilities will be closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Click here for a full list of closures.

Due to the forecast for cold and wintry weather, Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15.

Texas Department of Emergency Management is providing updates on state-level preparedness and response for the January winter weather.

Protect people, pets, pipes, and plants

Here are ways to protect people, pipes, pets, and plants when temperatures dip below freezing in Central Texas.

People, especially children and the elderly, need protection from the cold. Dress in layers and wear a hat that covers your ears to retain body heat. Also protect your extremities with warm socks and gloves.

Pets, such as cats and dogs, need access to shelter to protect them from cool temperatures and winds, and an unfrozen water source. Bring all pets inside and provide plenty of blankets for warmth. Once it is above freezing again, pets can be left outside if you provide a dry, draft-free shelter just large enough for them to lay down and protected from wind and rain. Outdoor pets may also need additional caloric intake to help them maintain their body heat.

Pipes can freeze and burst in lower temperatures. Be sure to protect outdoor water spigots with faucet covers and use foam pipe insulation on outdoor pipes. Above-ground irrigation backflow devices can also freeze, so remember to wrap or insulate them, and turn off backflow water valves and irrigation system controllers to reduce the freeze potential.

There is a risk for damage to exposed pipes during this hard freeze, especially across Central Texas. When water freezes, it expands and can burst the pipe. To protect your indoor pipes, open cabinet doors and eliminate drafts where water supply lines are located in unheated areas.

In the event of frozen pipes, it’s recommended that you turn off your water at the main shut-off valve to prevent additional damage when the pipes unfreeze. Learn how to find and operate your main shut-off valve here.

Plants in containers are more susceptible to freezing temperatures because they lack the insulation the earth naturally provides. Move container plants inside or put them on the south side of the house, water them and pile on mulch, leaves and hay to protect the roots, and/or cover them with a frost blanket.

Check out these cold weather preparedness tips from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Weather updates

• Sign up with Warn Central Texas to receive emergency weather updates.
• Weather maps and current forecasts can be found on the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service.

Check road conditions

• ATX Floods Interactive Map
• DriveTexas Interactive Drive Conditions Map
• Williamson County Weather Monitoring Map

Local electric/water outages
City of Georgetown electric customers can report electric outages and receive real-time updates via text message to and from 512-930-8400.

Electric customers who do not have phones capable of receiving text messages may still report outages not reflected on the online outage maps to 512-930-3640, then press 1. The City’s phone system will recognize the number if it’s tied to the utility account.

Customers should still track water and electric outages on the City’s online outage maps and only report outages not already reflected on the maps.

• View outages in the Georgetown Service area.
• Pedernales Electric Cooperative outage information
• Oncor electric outage information
• For additional information on what you can do during an outage, visit the Red Cross Power Outage page.

Solid waste and recycling collection

Texas Disposal Systems plans to continue normal trash and recycling collections next week, including Monday, Jan. 15. Please put trash carts at the curb by 7 a.m. Sign up for service alerts and collection day reminders here.

City Social Media

Follow us on social media for updates on this weather event and other important information.

• Facebook
• Twitter

Other

• Find out how to update your contact information and make sure we can contact you in case of an emergency.
• Learn how to make a family emergency plan.
• Learn more winter preparation tips from Atmos Energy.

A variety of events will be held in Georgetown Jan. 14-19 to honor the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Several City offices and facilities will be closed Jan. 15 in recognition of the holiday. For more information about City closures, visit this page.

MLK Day March and Program–POSTPONED

Update, Jan. 13: Due to the cold weather forecasted, the MLK Day march and program will be postponed to a later date.

A march to honor the MLK Day holiday begins at noon Monday, Jan. 15, at the Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Main St. After meeting on the north side of the Courthouse on Seventh Street, there will be a seven-block march to Macedonia Baptist Church, 206 Martin Luther King Jr. St. Participants are asked to start gathering at 11:45 a.m.

A program beginning at noon at Macedonia Baptist Church, 206 Martin Luther King Jr. St., features keynote speaker Georgetown ISD Superintendent Devin Padavil. The march and program are sponsored by the Georgetown Fellowship of Churches and are free and open to the public.

MLK Leaders Prayer Breakfast–CANCELED

Update, Jan. 14: Due to the wintry weather in the forecast, the MLK Leaders Prayer Breakfast has been canceled.

The Georgetown Ministerial Alliance and the Georgetown Police Department will host the MLK Leaders Prayer Breakfast at 8 a.m. Jan. 15. The event is at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B. Wood Road. A light breakfast will be provided. More information is available on Georgetown Ministerial Alliance Facebook page.

Youth Service Day–CANCELED

Update, Jan. 14: Due to the wintry weather in the forecast, the MLK Youth Service Day activities are canceled for tomorrow and Global Youth Service Day will be rescheduled for a day in April.

The Georgetown Project will host a Youth Service Day from 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 15 at the Georgetown Community Center, 445 E. Morrow St., for local high school students in grades 9-12.  A variety of projects and activities will be available. Drinks, snacks, and certificates for three hours of service will be provided.

For details, see The Georgetown Project website or call at 512-943-0074.

MLK Jr. Service Week Jan. 14-19

United Way for Greater Austin is hosting an MLK Jr. Service Week Jan. 14-19. There will be a series of in-person community volunteer opportunities and an educational walking tour. Learn more here.

Southwestern University Keynote Address on Jan. 31

Southwestern University hosts a Keynote Address as part of its Dream Week events to celebrate the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ebony Stewart will present a keynote address during Dream Week at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, in the Alma Thomas Theater. The keynote address is open to the public.

Stewart is an international touring interdisciplinary poet, writer, and performance artist. Her work speaks to the Black experience, with emphasis on gender, sexuality, womanhood, queer-positivity, and race, with the hopes to be relatable, remove shame, heal minds, encourage dialogue, and inspire folks in marginalized communities.

A campus map for the University is available here.

The City will host a free household hazardous waste collection event from 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 20, 2024, at the Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.

The event will be available for up to 400 eligible 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 names 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)
• Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers
• Propane and helium tanks

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

For more information about the City’s solid waste and recycling services, visit recycle.georgetown.org.

Did Santa bring you a new puppy or kitten for Christmas? Here are some important things to remember when caring for your new pet.

Welcome your pet with love and patience: Give your friend time to acclimate to the new environment, including new smells, sights, and sounds. Introduce them to new experiences slowly and be patient as they learn the new routine. Consider working with a trainer to address behaviors before they become a problem.

Leash your pet: Always leash your pet in public. It is against City ordinances for dogs to be at large in the city limits, and for cats that have not been altered or vaccinated to be at large. It is also against City ordinances to chain or tether your dog unless a person is holding the restraint.

License your pet: All dogs and cats that live within the city limits are required to have an annual city license. The City’s pet license requirement helps keep rabies under control by enforcing the rabies vaccination requirements. The cost of a license is $5 for animals that are spayed or neutered or $20 for unaltered animals. For residents age 65 and older, the license is free if the pet is spayed or neutered. Free licenses are limited to one per person. Licenses may be obtained online, by phone, email, mail, or at the shelter. Visit pets.georgetown.org/licensing-your-pets for more information.

Take care after your pet: You may not allow an animal to damage private property other than the owner’s property. Pick up after your pet by immediately removing any waste on public or private property and properly disposing of it. Free-roaming cats that cause a nuisance while off their owner’s property can be impounded and their owner can be fined.

Establish a relationship with a veterinarian: Vets are in high demand these days. Don’t wait until you have an emergency to take your pet to a vet. If your pet hasn’t been spayed or neutered, there are low-cost options out there if you are able to wait. Pro tip: if you adopt from a shelter, the animal will already be spayed, neutered, and vaccinated.

Learn more about Georgetown’s animal-related ordinances at pets.georgetown.org/overview/ordinances.

Here are some additional tips to consider this New Year to ensure pets are safe:

• When making an emergency kit for your family, consider your pet’s needs.
• Take a current photo of you and your pet together in case you get separated during a disaster.
• Keep your pet’s microchip registration info up to date.
• Put your name and contact information on your pet’s ID tag.

Learn more at ready.gov/pets.

About the Georgetown Animal Shelter

The City of Georgetown Animal Shelter is located at 110 W.L. Walden Drive. The shelter is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday and Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The shelter offers animal control and adoption services, citywide dog and cat licensing, and adoption events. For more information, visit pets.georgetown.org.

City of Georgetown offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 15, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection on Jan. 15.

City offices and facilities closed Jan. 15 for MLK Day include the following:

• 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. (reservations for Jan. 15 can be made in advance).
• Parks and Recreation Administration, 1101 N. College St.
• Planning Department, 809 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
• Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
• 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 Jan. 15

• Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive, will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Transfer Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

GoGeo paratransit service

There will be no service Monday, Jan. 15.

Solid Waste and Recycling Collection

There will be normal residential solid waste and recycling collection for Texas Disposal Systems customers in the City of Georgetown on Monday, Jan. 15. For questions about solid waste collection, call TDS at 512-930-1715.

MLK Day events

Several groups are hosting a variety events in honor of MLK Day. To find more information, visit this page.

The City of Georgetown will host a public open house to provide information and answer questions about the Wolf Ranch Parkway and Memorial Drive projects. Members of the public are invited to drop by the Wolf Ranch River Camp Amenity Center, 101 River Overlook Road, between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16., to learn more and ask questions about the project.

The Wolf Ranch Parkway project includes widening the roadway from Hwy. 29 to Rivery Boulevard to four lanes with a center median and adding a shared-use path. The City will install a roundabout at Memorial Drive and two traffic signals—at Rivery Driveway and Legacy Crossing—as part of the project. Temporary traffic signals will be installed prior to the project’s completion. The City will not need to acquire rights of way from the surrounding neighborhood.

The Memorial Drive project includes widening the roadway from River Chase to Wolf Ranch Parkway and adding a sidewalk on the south side of the road.

Expanding Memorial Drive and constructing the roundabout are estimated at $3.4 million. Cost estimates for the remaining work are still being determined. Funding for the projects will be split among the City Council’s Special Revenue Fund, the street maintenance quarter-cent sales tax, and potentially Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation. Timelines for construction are still being finalized.

Design engineers have completed 30-percent design plans for the Wolf Ranch Parkway and Memorial Drive projects and will have schematic design illustrations for the projects for review and feedback at the open house. Schematic designs include vehicle lane configurations and other features such as sidewalks, multi-use paths, and drainageways.

City engineering staff and engineering contractors will be at the open house to answer questions about the project.

Members of the public can learn more and share feedback about the project via an online comment box, which can be found here on the City’s website.

The deadline to submit comments on these projects is 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30. All public comments submitted on the projects will be reviewed and considered in the final designs.