In April, Georgetown Utility Systems attained diamond level status under the American Public Power Association’s Reliable Public Power Provider program. This is the program’s highest level of recognition and is only awarded after a rigorous application process and outside review.

The RP3 designation recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate proficiency in four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement. Criteria within each category are based on sound business practices and represent a utility’s commitment to safe and reliable delivery of electricity.

Glenn Dishong, Georgetown Utility Systems utility director, presented the RP3 recognition at the City Council meeting April 9. Georgetown is one of six public power providers in Texas to receive the diamond designation.

“Each of [the other diamond status utilities in Texas] are substantially larger than we are, and I think we should be proud that we were able to do that at our size,” Dishong said. “I want to congratulate all of the folks from the linemen to the engineering staff to technical services. … It’s all the work that everyone does every day participating in those four key pillars of the program that makes us what we are.”

In total, only 254 of the more than 2,000 public power utilities nationwide hold the RP3 designation. Levels of recognition include gold, platinum, and diamond. Georgetown Utility Systems had been a platinum designee since 2016.

During the council meeting, Mayor Dale Ross proclaimed April 18, 2019, as Lineman Appreciation Day in Georgetown in recognition of the work Georgetown Utility Systems lineman do 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to keep Georgetown’s electric system operating.

To learn more about Georgetown Utility Systems, go to gus.georgetown.org.

Early voting starts Monday, April 22, for the City Council election in Georgetown. The early in-person voting period is April 22-27 and April 29-30. Election Day is May 4.

For voters in the City of Georgetown, the May 4 ballot includes elections for City Council Districts 3, 4 and 7. Incumbent John Hesser and Michael Triggs are on the ballot for District 3, incumbent Steve Fought and Joe Reedholm for District 4, and incumbent Tommy Gonzalez and Jaquita Wilson for District 7.

Georgetown City Council members serve three-year terms representing single-member districts. To see maps of council districts, go to maps.georgetown.org/council-district-maps.

For polling locations, dates, and times in the early voting period or on election day, go to www.wilco.org/elections.

City Council approved the first reading of amendments to two ordinances related to water conservation at its meeting Tuesday.

The changes update the City’s water use requirements ordinance to make the current two-day watering schedule for irrigation systems and hose-end sprinklers the permanent watering schedule.

The new, permanent two-day watering schedule for irrigation systems and hose-end sprinklers is based on the last digit of customers’ street address.

The two-day schedule spreads watering over six days each week in order to balance demand on the water system. Irrigation is not permitted on Mondays. Monday is reserved as a recovery and maintenance day for the system.

Watering with an irrigation system or hose-end sprinkler should not be done between the hours of noon to 7 p.m. each day. Watering with hose-end sprinklers must comply with the new schedule. Use of a hand-held hose or bucket can be any day and at any time. Other outdoor water uses such as vehicle washing or filling a swimming pool can be done any day at any time.

Violations of the irrigation schedule may result in fines.

Drought Contingency Plan

A second ordinance change updated the city’s Drought Contingency Plan to reflect new triggers for additional watering restrictions based on drought conditions. Upon approval of the second reading, the plan calls for mandatory one-day per week watering schedule for all customers when certain triggers are met. Those triggers are tied to the City’s water treatment capacity, the volume of Lake Georgetown and Lake Stillhouse Hollow, and a variety of other factors. Council will hear the second reading at its April 23 meeting.

Rebates

The City is offering three new rebates for customers to improve the efficiency of their irrigation systems. Customers can receive $150 in rebates for each of the following programs: changing their irrigation system from a spray system to a drip system, converting spray nozzles to multi-stream nozzles, or installing a wi-fi enabled “smart” controller to help irrigation systems run more efficiently.

Please visit gus.georgetown.org/water/rebate for more information.

A reminder to all customers: #NoWateringMonday. Monday is a recovery day for the water treatment, storage, and distribution system.

Changes to the City’s development code related to structures in historic districts were approved on second reading by the City Council at their meeting on Tuesday. The new rules go into effect on April 24.

The process to make changes to the Unified Development Code related to historic structures started last summer. The City conducted surveys in September and October last year to get input from residents and those involved in the development process on the historic district rules. Earlier this year, the UDC Advisory Committee and the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the rules, listened to public input, and made recommendations about potential changes.

The new rules are for 1,677 houses and other structures identified in the 2016 Historic Resource Survey. Structures are designated in the survey as high-priority, medium-priority, or low-priority. The UDC requires approval for exterior modifications to structures identified on the survey. Most of these structures are in the Downtown or Old Town districts.

According to the revised rules approved by the City Council, approval of modifications for medium- and high-priority buildings in a historic district will continue to be reviewed by the Historic and Architectural Review Commission. Approval for low-priority buildings in a historic district will move from HARC to City Planning staff. One exception is that requests for demolition of low-priority structures inside a historic district will continue to be reviewed by HARC.

In addition, new single- and two-family residential structures in historic districts will now require approval from HARC.

The use of in-kind materials is permitted for low- and medium-priority structures. In-kind materials look like historic materials, but may be newly-made.

For the demolition of a high-priority structure outside a historic district, a 60-day hold will still apply and HARC will review the demolition application. For the demolition of a medium-priority structure outside a historic district, a 60-day hold will still apply and City Planning staff will review the demolition application. Demolition of a low-priority structure outside a historic district will no longer involve review by HARC or City Planning staff.

According to the new rules, HARC will continue to retain responsibility for final decisions. Overturning a HARC decision will require four votes at City Council. Previously, HARC appeals required five votes at City Council.

For more information about historic resources, the Historic Resource Survey, and the development process for historic structures, go to historic.georgetown.org.

The last day to register to vote in the May 4 election is Thursday, April 4.

To register in person, go to the Williamson County Elections office in Georgetown at this address:

Inner Loop Annex
301 S.E. Inner Loop, Ste. 104
Georgetown, TX 78626

The elections office will be open until 9 p.m. on April 4.

Registration forms can also be mailed to the above address if they are postmarked by the April 4 deadline. Download a registration form from the Williamson County Elections page at www.wilco.org/elections. Texas Voter Registration Application forms also are available at a number of locations including Georgetown City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King, Jr. St. and at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.

For voters in the City of Georgetown, the May 4 ballot includes elections for City Council Districts 3, 4 and 7. Incumbent John Hesser and Michael Triggs are on the ballot for District 3, incumbent Steve Fought and Joe Reedholm for District 4, and incumbent Tommy Gonzalez and Jaquita Wilson for District 7.

Georgetown City Council members serve three-year terms representing one of seven single-member districts. To see maps of council districts, go to maps.georgetown.org/council-district-maps.

Early in-person voting is April 22-27 and April 29-30. Election day is May 4.

For polling locations, dates, and times in the early voting period or on election day, go to www.wilco.org/elections.

At its March 26 meeting, City Council approved waiving temporary sign permit fees for businesses affected by the Atmos Energy evacuation.

The waiver for temporary signs, including banners, will be in effect through Sept. 30. To date at least 67 businesses along the Williams Drive corridor have been affected by the gas leak evacuations. Each business will still need to make an application for temporary signs and follow the City’s standards for temporary signs, including placement and size.

Last Friday the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce sponsored a meeting for affected businesses to listen to concerns and ideas with representatives from the City, Williamson County, and Atmos Energy. The chamber has also created a webpage at georgetownchamber.org/williams-drive listing businesses affected by the evacuations. The list includes the current status of businesses along the Williams Drive corridor, including if they have been able to return to their location, are working from a temporary location, or are closed.

Atmos Energy continues work to remediate the effects of the underground gas leak that was found Feb. 20. That leak was repaired, but Atmos Energy continues to vent residual gas found underground. Last week, Mayor Dale Ross requested the state begin assessing the response to the residual gas remediation.

Currently, 62 homes evacuated and 59 businesses evacuated. Since March 15, eight businesses and 11 homeowners have been able to return to their places of business or homes.

Atmos has posted an updated FAQ page and evacuation map. The page also provides information about the claims process and actions Atmos is taking to resolve the issue of residual gas underground.