Georgetown Edition | February 2025

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Georgetown Edition VOLUME 18, ISSUE 6 FEB. 27MARCH 26, 2025

Securing wa t er

BY ANNA MANESS

The city of Georgetown will increase its treated water supply by 22 million gallons per day this summer and 22 mgd next summer as the South Lake Water Treatment Plant comes online, Assistant City Manager Laurie Brewer said. The projected $291.8 million plant will double the city’s water utility treatment capacity, but the issue is two-pronged. George- town ocials are also working to increase the city’s access to additional water suppliers to keep up with anticipated demands. “People need water to live,” Brewer said. “It’s incumbent upon us as local ocials who have a water utility to make sure that the supply is reliable and safe.”

CONTINUED ON 38

DB WOOD RD.

CROCKETT GARDENS RD.

The South Lake Water Treatment Plant will use intake pumps to pull raw water from Lake Georgetown once it opens this summer.

COURTESY CITY OF GEORGETOWN

Also in this issue

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Impacts: Red Horn Coee House and Taproom is opening on the square—read about the business’s third location (Page 6)

Education: Learn more about the various private and charter school options in the Georgetown area (Page 16)

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GEORGETOWN EDITION

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About Community Impact Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

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GEORGETOWN EDITION

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Impacts

5 Farr Orthodontics Owned by Drs. Samantha and Jordan Farr, the practice specializes in braces and clear aligners for patients, preventative treatment and aesthetic services. • Opened in January • 2960 FM 1460, Ste. 105, Georgetown • www.farrortho.com 6 Rise Up Chiropractic The business is owned and operated by Shanna Jackson, an upper cervical chiropractic specialist. The practice also treats expectant mothers and children. • Opened Jan. 6 • 2951 FM 1460, Ste. 1402, Georgetown • www.riseupchirotx.com 29 7 iMed Integrated Medical Group Run by Ricky Ngo, the center offers chiropractic services to treat headaches, neck pain, neuropathy, scoliosis and auto accident injuries. • Opened Jan. 18 • 204 S. I-35, Ste. 101, Georgetown • www.imed-tx.com 8 Rodeo Travel Center Customers at the 24-hour truck stop can find snacks, drinks, hot food, baked goods, souvenirs and ice cream. 130 TOLL

NORTHWEST BLVD.

145

1105

972

RIVERY BLVD.

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WOLF RANCH PKWY.

KAUFFMAN LP

VIA DE SIENNA BLVD.

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MAP NOT TO SCALE

• Opened in late December • 4601 S. I-35, Georgetown • 737-349-0877 110

3 Rush Automotive The business offers repairs, brake checks, check engine light diagnostics, oil changes and wheel alignment.

Now open

Metro Service Pros The Georgetown-based business offers remodeling, handyman, carpentry and custom cabinetry services, owner and CEO John Bryant said. • Opened Jan. 3 • www.metro-servicepros.com

1 Whataburger The chain serves burgers, chicken tenders and shakes. • Opened Jan. 21 • 19378 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Georgetown • www.whataburger.com 2 Burn Boot Camp Georgetown The gym offers community-based group fitness, focus meetings with trainers and body scans as well as child care, said franchise partner Jennifer Benner. • Opened Feb. 10 • 2006 Rivery Blvd., Ste. 203, Georgetown • www.burnbootcamp.com 1431

• Opened in late December • 4611 N. I-35, Georgetown • www.myrushauto.com

1460

4 Eye Associates of Central Texas Associate Optometrist Dr. Jason Stone said services include eye examinations, cataract evaluations, non- urgent medical examinations and more. • Opened Dec. 10 • 3618 Williams Drive, Ste. 101, Georgetown • www.eyeassociatestexas.com

110

Coming soon

9 Red Horn Coffee House and Taproom Offering a variety of coffee drinks and beers on tap, the business is opening in Black Sugar Caffe’s former location on the square.

Dr. Craig P. Torres D.D.S., Endodontist Board Certified (COL US Army Dental Corps RET) • Non-surgical root canal therapy • Root canal retreatments • Root canal surgery Dr. Gloria T. Torres D.D.S., Prosthodontist (LTC US Army Dental Corps RET) 66 Years Combined Experience (Retired Army Dentists)

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• Opening in the spring • 109 W. Seventh St., Ste. 105, Georgetown • www.redhornbrew.com

• Relocated Jan. 6 • 3010 Williams Drive, Ste. 168, Georgetown • www.shamrock-acupuncture.com

Relocations

10 Playa Bowls The menu will include smoothies, acai bowls, juices and cold brews. • Opening in May • 1013 W. University Ave., Ste. 175, Georgetown • www.playabowls.com

13 Sagamore Fence & Deck Currently located at 455 SH 195, Ste. B, Georgetown, the fence and deck contractor is locally owned by Tony and Jessica Perez. • Relocating in March

• 6550 FM 1105, Georgetown • www.sagamorefence.com

Relocations

Closings

11 The Potter’s House Christian Church of Georgetown The Bible-preaching Pentecostal church opened in March 2023 at 40201 Industrial Park Circle, Georgetown, Pastor Josh Stephens said. • Relocated in January

14 Hello Sweetie BBQ Owner Al Shankle decided to close the barbecue spot to continue his battle with cancer. • Closed in January • 2200 S. Austin Ave., Ste. 101, Georgetown 15 Barrels & Amps After recently celebrating five years of business in September, the restaurant closed its location on the square. • Closed Dec. 21 • 718 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown

16 Wine Sensation Owned by Patrease Rogers, the business, which offers a variety of wines and appetizers, is moving from its previous location at 409 N. Mays St., Round Rock. • Relocating in late February • 1500 Rivery Blvd., Ste. 2125, Georgetown • www.winesensation.com

• 1603 Northwest Blvd., Georgetown • www.georgetownchristianchurch.com

12 Shamrock Acupuncture Formerly at 5361 Williams Drive, Georgetown, the business offers acupuncture services to help clients manage pain, owner Wanjun Shamrock Xu said.

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Government

BY ANNA MANESS

Airport manager focuses on growth

Breaking it down

Twenty-two businesses operate at the airport. They help service the roughly 345 airplanes based on the field, Sommerfeld said. Aircraft range from single-engine aircraft to larger, corporate-style jet aircraft, he said. “If an aircraft breaks down at the airport, they can get all the services they need from somebody on the airfield through a business on the airfield to get that aircraft flying safely again,” Sommerfeld said. Airport services include a fixed base operator, maintenance facilities, seven repair facilities, seven flight schools and six companies specializ- ing in aircraft sales, according to the city’s website. Fuel sales, rentals and leases allow the airport to be self-supporting, Georgetown Communications Manager Keith Hutchinson said in an email to Community Impact . Many flight schools at the airport partner with airlines to get pilots through their program and into an airline as fast as possible, Sommerfeld said. “All the airports that do a lot of flight training are really the backbone to get pilots flying and into the air service and the commercial service flight operations,” Sommerfeld said.

aren’t typical, corporate aviation, medical flights, medevacs and air ambulances are. Doctors who are based at the airport can be flown to a clinic when needed, and since the airport is always open, departure and arrival times are flexible, Sommerfeld said. On average, the airport sees about 10,000- 11,000 operations, or takeoffs and landings, per month, Sommerfeld said. The airport has experienced a 92% increase in operations in the last decade, according to a report shared by Sommerfeld.

Each month, thousands of pilots take off and land at the Georgetown Executive Airport, a facility servicing the city with private aviation since 1945. As the city grows, Airport Manager Matthew Sommerfeld is planning accordingly to keep the airport running. The FAA defines the Georgetown Executive Airport as a general aviation airport, meaning it sees mostly private operations, Sommerfeld said. While cargo operations or commercial services

Flying high A report from the airport captures all takeoffs and landings during tower operations from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. Takeoffs and landings

+91.97%

150,000

120,000

90,000

60,000

30,000

Georgetown Executive Airport

130 TOLL

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

2014

LAKEWAY DR.

SOURCE: GEORGETOWN EXECUTIVE AIRPORT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Looking ahead

... good and cool projects coming up in the next year or two.” With the airport’s strict pavement standards, additional upcoming projects include repaving a runway in the spring and working on an “aggressive” capital improvement plan to tackle other pavement upgrades, he said.

will begin in early 2025 and looks to alleviate the roughly 400 members on the hangar waitlist, Sommerfeld said. In the next two years, he said there could be quite a bit of construction on hangar builds. “This airport has built one hangar in the last 16 years,” Sommerfeld said. “I think we’re changing that, and we’re going to see a lot of

With a hangar waitlist of 10 years, Sommerfeld is focused on future development at the airport. “The airport has a lot of green space, and if that green space isn’t being used, you’re not capitalizing on the financials to keep an airport healthy,” Sommerfeld said. A project that involves building new hangars

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Government

BY ANNA MANESS

County hires 4 death investigators

The backstory

Up until now, the county’s four justices have been responsible for conducting death inquests through one-week shifts, since Williamson County doesn’t have a medical examiner’s office, Williams said. For three weeks out of the month, justices would have a full court docket, but starting Thursday at 5 p.m., they would be on-call 24/7 for death inquiries countywide until the following Thursday, Williams said. Justices could receive between 25-30 inquests while on call, she said.

Historically, justices of the peace have been in charge of responding to death inquests, Williams said. Williamson County commissioners approved funding for the new positions as part of the fiscal year 2024-25 general budget. “I’m so proud of this particular piece of our budget, and in fact, it may be the most important thing I’ve been a part of since I’ve been county judge,” Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said at an Aug. 27 county commissioners meeting. Each of the county’s four justices will be assigned one DII, Williams said. They will work alongside investigators to ensure ample evidence exists to confirm the manner and cause of death, she said.

Four death inquest investigators have started working for Williamson County, a need elected officials have been voicing for a decade. The new positions—two DIIs and two senior DIIs—will help the justice courts oversee unattended deaths in the county, or deaths requiring an investigation to determine the cause, manner and time of death. The employees’ first day was Jan. 10, a county official said. Angela Williams, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 judge, said the investigators are coming from other medical examiner’s offices in Texas. “We are getting some highly skilled and extremely qualified death investigators,” Williams said in an interview with Community Impact .

Unattended deaths can look like a person dying:

• In prison • By suicide • An unnatural death, such as drowning or in an automobile accident • While under the care of a physician who only verifies death certificates for natural deaths • From unknown circumstances

SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

WilCo death cases worked by justices of the peace, 2014-2023

1,200

Looking ahead

+121.91%

900

972 1,023

While the commissioners court is considering locating the county’s future medical examiner’s office at the newly- purchased Lake Creek Annex building in Austin, no final decisions on the annex have been made, a county official said. Gravell voiced a need for death inquest investigators back in 2015, when he himself was a justice of the peace for Precinct 3, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

847

762

600

577 620

521

506 517

461

300

2014 2015 2016

2017

2018 2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Government

BY ANNA MANESS

WilCo Sheri Matthew Lindemann works to keep home county safe Williamson County’s newest elected sheri comes with about four decades of law enforce- ment experience. Throughout Matthew Lindemann’s career, which began when he was 19 as a Williamson County jailer, he’s only not been stationed in Williamson County for eight months. Following the Nov. 5 election, Lindemann was sworn in as county sheri Jan. 1. Lindemann sat down with Community Impact to discuss the goals for his rst term. You served as a Texas Ranger earlier in your career. How do you think that experience set you up for your role as county sheri? When you’re a Texas Ranger, you work with local law enforcement agencies on their major investigations. At times, there had been investi- gations that I worked on where there would be 30 or 40 people from dierent agencies working together. ... I had experience in managing people, even though they didn’t work directly for me, but managing major investigations. ... Working with other great people from other great agencies [prepares] you for things that you don’t even realize at the time. What are some steps you’ve made to become more transparent with citizens? About the rst week of February, we put out stats on our website and on our Facebook page. ... It just tells the public where their money’s going— calls for service, the number of people arrested that month, and that’s collectively of all law enforcement. ... A lot of people, they may see one patrol car go down their street in a month’s time. Well, they don’t realize that we answered 10,228 calls for service. During the election, your campaign focused on being “tough on crime.” How is your oce dealing with crime countywide? Detectives are doing great work every day. Three or four times over the last ve weeks, I’ve seen pictures of search warrants that they executed and seized drugs and weapons that they’ve taken o the street. That’s going to help reduce crime, because that’s one less weapon the bad guys will have to use against people. ... We have a drug interdiction unit that works hard every day trying to take down drugs o the interstate and seize

Lindemann's law enforcement background

1985: Williamson County jailer

1985-1990: Williamson County deputy sheri

1990-1997: State trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety, serving on the DPS SWAT team 1997-2018: Texas Ranger, including serving on the protective detail for Gov. George W. Bush and Gov. Rick Perry during their campaigns for presidency

2019-2021: Williamson County District Attorney’s Oce investigator

2021-2024: Williamson County Precinct 3 constable

2025: Williamson County sheri

SOURCE: MATTHEW LINDEMANNCOMMUNITY IMPACT

ANNA MANESSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

each deputy is between $150,000-$200,000 by the time you buy their vehicle and the equipment that goes in the vehicle and [train] them. ... But that’s just the cost of doing business. [The] main thing I want to do is make sure each one of the deputies comes home safe at the end of every day. In March, you’ll have served in law enforcement for 40 years. Reecting on your career, what are you most proud of? Wow, that’s a tough question. I’ve gotten to work with so many talented people over the years that have helped me be a better ocer, and I’ve had a lot of opportunities given to me that I took full advantage of. I’m very thankful for that. [I’m] thankful to have lived and worked in Williamson County, where I grew up. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep it safe for families for years to come. My grandchildren are being raised here right now, and that’s why Williamson County is so important to me. It’s my home, and I don’t plan on living anywhere else, as far as I know.

money from the criminals, so we can use that to buy equipment and train with. What’s the reasoning behind the expansion of the Juvenile Justice Center, and the proposed Sheri’s Oce and jail expansion? With population comes increased crime, so you have to have the facilities to deal with it. If you don’t have places to house people that break the law and commit crimes, then you have to send them to other counties who charge you. ... Over the next eight to 10 years, I fully expect there [to] be a new Sheri’s Oce, jail and courthouse complex. With more people and more crime com- ing, we have to be able to deal with that to keep Williamson County safe for people to live here, work here, raise their children here. It’s costly, but it’s what’s necessary. What other priorities have come up as you’ve entered this position? I want our personnel to focus on taking care of our most vulnerable population, and that’s seniors and our children. We need to work hard to educate our kids ... not [to] take anything that a doctor or pharmacist or their parents don’t give to them. Our seniors are being victimized daily by phone scams. ... The Sheri’s Oce is not going to call anyone and request money from them. ... If [we] have a warrant for their arrest, we’ll probably come out and see them. What’s next for the Sheri’s Oce? We’re going to be asking for probably ... 20 more deputies for next year. And that’s a big ask, because

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com.

GEORGETOWN EDITION

Government

Library expansion short-term alternatives discussed With multiple construction projects underway, Georgetown City Council members expressed concerns with the Georgetown Public Library’s Cost estimates for library improvements throughout Georgetown

Neighborhoods to see new restrictions Following public comments at a Jan. 14 City Council meeting, officials agreed to support lower residential building height restrictions for the San José and Track-Ridge-Grasshopper neighborhoods. The gist Council members agreed the maximum height restriction for residential buildings in the TRG and San José neighborhoods should be 25 feet and 20 feet, respectively.

$20M $40M $60M $80M $100M $120M

previously suggested expansion time frame. During a Jan. 28 meeting, officials discussed cost-effective, short-term alternatives for residents. In a nutshell To improve Georgetown residents’ library experience, design firm Steinberg Hart originally suggested six stages to implement new services, including a timeline to renovate the downtown facility over the next four to seven years. What they’re saying “I just don’t think that the renovation of our existing facility is a reality in the four- to sev- en-year time frame,” District 5 council member Kevin Pitts said. “The expansion, I think, needs to be further out. We need to be looking at smaller ways to expand the services in the library.” Pitts said adding microbranches and holds

GPL renovation and expansion

Library branch

Microbranch Four holds lockers

130 TOLL

SOURCES: CITY OF GEORGETOWN, STEINBERG HART/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Track-Ridge- Grasshopper neighborhood

lockers are a more realistic approach in the coming years. City Manager David Morgan said staff will implement council’s feedback and make changes to the library long-range plan.

San José neighborhood

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY ANNA MANESS

Care Coordination program launches

SOUTHWESTERN BLVD.

1460

Williamson County launched Care Coor- dination, a new program aimed to combat child sex trafficking, on Jan. 24. The big picture The Care Coordination team’s ultimate goal is to eradicate commercial youth sexual exploitation in Texas, per a county news release. The program is funded through the Office of the Texas Governor’s Child Sex Trafficking Team and does not receive fund- ing from Williamson County, a county offi- cial said in an email to Community Impact . Diving in deeper The program partners with over a dozen local organizations and agencies composed of members united in supporting survivors.

SE INNER LOOP

Crews with Chasco Constructors are actively putting up the third oor of Williamson County’s future administration building, County Judge Bill Gravell said.

ANNA MANESS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

WilCo continues construction on new headquarters County commissioners approved adjustments to the Williamson County Administration Building project’s contract during a Feb. 11 meeting. What’s changing? The phased approach was taken due to changing manufacturer lead times, supply chain issues and to expedite the start of construction, per county documents.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey said the structured method was chosen in part to avoid delaying the building. Now, Chasco and Williamson County will com- bine four GMP proposals into one $79.4 million GMP proposal. Covey said it will allow for a “better application of the money.”

County officials and Chasco Constructors, the project’s construction manager at risk, previously agreed to separate guaranteed maximum price proposals for four phases of construction to ensure construction start and end dates were met, per county documents.

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GEORGETOWN EDITION

Education

Private & Charter School Guide

2025

Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: student clubs Enrollment: 75 Tuition: $435-$595 per month • 302 Serenda Drive, Georgetown • www.cscstx.com

• 225 Grace Blvd., Georgetown • www.gracetx.org

Private schools These institutions are not funded by the state, but instead by tuition payments made by families as well as other nonpublic sources. Additionally, they are able to create their own curriculum and enrollment requirements. Charter schools In Texas, charter schools are tuition-free, open- enrollment institutions, but are subject to fewer state laws than traditional public schools, according to the Texas Education Agency. Cantera Montessori School of Silicon Valley Type: Montessori Ages served: 6 weeks-6 years Extracurricular activities: art, cooking, STEM, gardening, soccer, music, gymnastics Enrollment: 74

Grace Episcopal School Type: religious-based Grades served: preschool-K Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: not provided Enrollment: 70 Tuition: $365-$480 per month • 1314 E. University Ave., Georgetown • www.graceschool1992.org

Divine Savior Academy Type: religious-based Grades served: pre-K-9 Religious orientation : Christian

Extracurricular activities: sports, dance, music, art, drama, clubs, student council, National Honor Society Enrollment: 350 Tuition: starting at $12,921 per year • 23857 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Liberty Hill • www.divinesavioracademy.com

Invictus: An Acton Academy Type: Montessori Grades served: pre-K-6 (middle school launching fall 2026, high school coming soon) Extracurricular activities: physical education Enrollment: 26 Tuition: $1,250 per month • 10000 W. Hwy. 29, Georgetown • www.invictusleander.org

Georgetown Christian Academy Type: religious-based Grades served: K-5 Religious orientation: Christian

Tuition: $1,345-$1,665 per month • 4400 W. Hwy. 29, Georgetown • www.msosv.com/cantera

Extracurricular activities: American sign language, music, art, physical education, agriculture, taekwondo, pickleball Enrollment: 70 Tuition: $8,739 per year • 3309 Shell Road, Georgetown • www.gcagtx.org Grace Academy Type: classical, religious-based Grades served : K-12 Religious orientation: Christian Extracurricular activities: mock trial, art, National Honor Society, football, basketball, cross county, track, volleyball Enrollment: 360 Tuition: $11,134-$13,190 per year

Zion Lutheran School Type: religious-based Grades served: pre-K3-8 Religious orientation: Lutheran

Community Montessori School Type: Montessori Grades served: preschool-8 Extracurricular activities: not provided Enrollment: 240 Tuition: $13,250 per year • 500 Pleasant Valley Drive, Georgetown • www.community-montessori.org Cornerstone Classical School (opening in the fall) Type: hybrid, religious-based Grades served: pre-K-9

Extracurricular activities: sports programs through the Austin Christian Athletic Association, chess, an academic competition team, archery, band Enrollment: 250 Tuition: $7,150-$9,240 per year • 6101 FM 1105 Georgetown • www.zionwalburg.org/school Gateway Tech High School Grades served: 9-12, half-day accelerated and credit recovery program Extracurricular activities: students can participate in

A Public School That Feels Private

K-12 Public Charter School

UIL Athletics & Tuition-Free Advanced Placement (AP) Monthly Tours Gatewaycps.org

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY ANNA MANESS & CLAIRE SHOOP

Gateway College Preparatory School extracurriculars Enrollment: 26 (a.m.), 18 (p.m.) • 2951 Williams Drive, Bldg. 2, Georgetown • www.gatewayhs.org Goodwater Montessori School Grades served: Pre-K3-5 Extracurricular activities: chess club, STEM program Enrollment: 367

• 710 Stadium Drive, Georgetown • www.goodwatermontessori.org

Harmony Science Academy-Georgetown (opening in August) Grades served: Pre-K-6 Extracurricular activities: STEM clubs, sports clubs, academic clubs, arts clubs, after-school care Enrollment: 550 • 201 Blue Ridge Drive, Georgetown • https://hsageorgetown.harmonytx.org This list is not comprehensive.

Cosmic Roots Nature School Type: microschool Grades served: pre-K-8 (adding ninth grade in the fall) Extracurricular activities : art, handiwork, herbalism, apothecary, outdoor education, gardening, 3D printing Enrollment: 55 Tuition: $785-$950 per month • 75 CR 152, Georgetown • www.cosmicrootsgeorgetown.org

Gateway College Preparatory School Grades served : K-12 Extracurricular activities: class 4A UIL athletics, academics and fine arts Enrollment: 1,650 • 3360 Westinghouse Road, Georgetown • www.gatewaycps.org

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GEORGETOWN EDITION

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Education

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

Harmony Science Academy Georgetown on track to open this fall

The details

The public charter school selects students via lottery, which was held Feb. 13. Seed said families who are not selected to attend the school via the lottery system will be put on a waitlist. Students who are accepted or waitlisted will not have to reapply for the following school year.

A Harmony Public Schools campus is on track to open in Georgetown in August, said Tracie Seed, HPS Central Texas director of communication and marketing. The building that will house the rst phase of the campus will be completed in May, she said. The school will oer pre-K through sixth grade, and will add a new grade each year until it is a pre-K-12 institution. The school will teach a science, technology, engineering and math-focused curriculum, Seed said. She said the community has expressed support for the upcoming school. “They were very welcoming to us and arms wide open,” she said. “We feel very comfortable coming in here, and it’s a home now for our new campus.”

$24.36M is the cost of constructing the rst building 750 students is the building’s maximum capacity 25-27 students per classroom

Harmony Science Academy Georgetown

BLUE RIDGE DR.

Construction on the rst phase of the campus began in May, and is expected to take a year to complete.

166

1460

SOURCE: HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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GEORGETOWN EDITION

Education

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

Georgetown ISD reduces expected shortfall for FY 2024-25 to under $1M

Looking ahead

Hanna also provided a preliminary budget outlook for the upcoming 2025-26 financial year, noting a potential increase to the homestead exemption capping residential value at $140,000 has been floated at the Texas Legislature, which could have funding impacts for the district. For the maintenance and operations part of tax collections, Hanna said, the state provides additional funding to offset the decrease resulting from an increase in homestead exemptions. However, the interest and sinking portion of the rate, revenue from which is used to pay the district’s debts, could be impacted, she said.

Georgetown ISD’s expected shortfall is now expected to come in at just under $1 million, a new financial report from the district shows. This update from the district comes as administrators are tracking the current financial trajectory of GISD as they begin preparing a budget proposal for the 2025-26 school year. A combination of factors have reduced the district’s projected shortfall of $4.5 million to $900,000, GISD Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Hanna said at a Feb. 3 board workshop. The district’s attendance rate is around 94%, about 2% higher than initially projected. Additionally, district documents show enrollment is around 200 students higher than originally projected.

Projected budget shortfall

Initial: $4.5M

Current: $900,000

Reasons for reduction:

Higher attendance and enrollment rates

Additional state revenue

SOURCE: GEORGETOWN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

These factors, combined with $2 million in additional revenue from the Texas comptroller’s 2022-23 fiscal year, helped shrink the gap, she said.

The place for Learn in

Welcome to Georgetown’s African-American history.

In February as we celebrate Black History Month, there are several ways to help honor the lives and achievements of African Americans in Georgetown and Williamson County , including events hosted by the Georgetown Cultural Citizen Memorial Association. The Georgetown Public Library also has age-appropriate reading lists and displays available for library patrons. For more information, visit georgetowntexas.gov.

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Education

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

District moves forward with $852K in projects Georgetown ISD will complete several projects to improve multiple campuses after trustees approved the use of $852,500 in unspent 2021 bond funds. What you need to know As with previous approvals for the use of unspent bond funds, the projects are smaller capital improvements at several campuses in the district. However, the selection of the projects happened through a newly established process, according to district documents. The new process involves staff evaluating potential projects using a scoring matrix before bringing them to the district’s Bond Advisory Committee, which deliberated on the proposal and staff recommendations for these projects.

Georgetown ISD purchases 10 acres Georgetown ISD officials greenlit the pur- chase of 10.01 acres in the district’s northwest quadrant Feb. 3, potentially for a future high school site and other district facilities. The gist Documents show the purchase comes with a development agreement as the dis- trict completes a 110-acre parcel of property. The district has not yet shared the total purchase price of the 10.01 acres of property, or its exact location, as details are in the process of being finalized. How we got here This comes about six months after the dis- trict purchased just over 11 acres of property in the district’s northwest, also to be used for a future school site.

The proposal includes the following projects:

Village Elementary School and Carver Elementary School driveway canopy extensions: $300,000 Tippit Middle School and Wagner Middle School tennis court resurfacing: $250,000

Interior painting at Village Elementary School: $100,000

Georgetown High School wrestling room expansion: $77,500

Fiber and data connections at Tippit Middle School: $75,000

East View High School toilet partition repairs: $25,000

Hammerlun Center for Leadership and Learning security improvements to Building 2: $15,000

Fiber and data connections at Wagner Middle School: $10,000

SOURCE: GEORGETOWN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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GEORGETOWN EDITION

Transportation

BY ANNA MANESS

Georgetown officials are navigating new road construction timelines after multiple projects have been delayed. Georgetown Transportation Manager Lua Saluone presented an update on 2021 Road Bond projects during a Jan. 28 City Council workshop. During the meeting, District 5 council member Kevin Pitts questioned the construction setbacks. “Every single [road] project on here, besides the Austin Avenue bridges ... did not hit the dates given to us less than 12 months ago,” Pitts said. “What is the reason for the delay in every single project?” Saluone said utility conflicts and right-of- way relocations are causing the holdups. Georgetown Systems Engineering Director Wesley Wright said officials underestimated the number of utility conflicts that would arise, using the SE Inner Loop project as an example. “We expected about seven [conflicts], and we ended up with 22,” Wright said. Staff will return to council in the summer to discuss funding, cost and grant updates. Georgetown leaders discuss delays in city road projects

The timeline

Saluone’s presentation included some construction start and end dates as well as time frames for bids—or proposal advertisements to contractors. The new time frames are:

1 Austin Avenue vehicular bridge rehabilitation Construction started: October 2024 Construction ends: October 2025 2 Rockride Lane Bid: February 2025 Construction starts: summer 2025 Construction ends: fall 2026 3 Shell Road Bid: early 2025 4 DB Wood Road Phase 2 Bid: May 2025 Construction starts: summer 2025 Construction ends: fall 2027

5 Williams Drive A Illumination project Bid: August 2025 B Access management project Bid: early 2026

8 Wolf Ranch Parkway roundabout Bid: fall 2025

Construction ends: summer 2026 9 Austin Avenue pedestrian bridge rehabilitation Bid: January 2026 Construction starts: March 2026 Construction ends: October 2027 10 Leander Road Bid: March 2026 11 Austin Avenue roundabout Bid: spring 2026 Construction starts: summer 2026 Construction ends: summer 2027

6 SE Inner Loop Bid: summer 2025

Construction starts: fall 2025 Construction ends: fall 2027 7 Hwy. 29 Bid: September 2025 Construction starts: September 2025 Construction ends: fall 2026

SAN GABRIEL RIVER

LAKE GEORGETOWN

WOLF RANCH PKWY.

DB WOOD RD.

1 9 11

SE INNER LOOP

SOUTHWEST BYPASS

130 TOLL

ROCKRIDE LN.

MAP NOT TO SCALE N

SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Available funding, cost estimates for Georgetown road projects

Project funding

$63.8M

$0 $10M $20M $30M $40M $50M $60M $70M $80M

Construction estimate

$66M

Available funding

In addition to the construction delays, the city is also over budget by $6.3 million for seven city road projects identified in the 2021 Road Bond, which are expected to cost $194.2 million in construction, according to city documents. Mayor Josh Schroeder said officials have seen higher-than-anticipated costs for construction since the bond, per previous Community Impact reporting.

$34M

$30.9M $18.6M

$32.3M

$18M $14.7M $19M $18.6M

$14.8M $18M $14.4M $19M

Rockride Lane

Shell Road DB Wood Road Phase 2

Williams Drive*

Austin Avenue pedestrian bridges

SE Inner Loop

Leander Road

SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN/COMMUNITY IMPACT *COSTS ARE FOR THE ILLUMINATION AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT PROJECTS ON WILLIAMS DRIVE.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY HALEY MCLEOD

Rates increase for 6 Austin toll roads

What else?

The Mobility Authority continues funding $259 million in new toll roads. It’s extending the pay-for-play express lanes from Hero Way in Leander to a little past Hwy. 29 in Liberty Hill. According to the Mobility Authority, 183A Toll has seen an increase in drivers. It predicts weekday traffic increases of more than 50% by 2040. Plans brought before the public over the summer included adding a fourth lane in both directions from RM 620 and SH 45 to Hero Way. In addition to its work in the north, the agency is also eyeing an extension of the MoPac Express Lanes in South Austin. A public comment period is underway for proposed new toll lanes on an 8-mile stretch of south MoPac from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaughter Lane.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the agency responsible for managing and collecting fares on many of the express lanes in the Austin area, increased toll rates Jan. 1. Originally approved during an October Mobility Authority board meeting, the majority of toll collection points will see between a 2%-3% increase. The toll rate increases follow Mobility Authority policy that adjusts rates each year based on inflation to prevent larger hikes every five years. Most tolling location points will see between a $0.01-$0.05 increase for toll users compared to previous rates in 2024, while three tolling points along the 183A Toll will see a $0.09 increase. The MoPac Express Lane will also see an $0.08 rate increase.

183A TOLL

130 TOLL

183A Toll

45 TOLL

183

620

290 Toll

Austin

MoPac Express Lane

290

183 Toll

290

MOPAC

183

SH 45 Toll

Hwy. 71 Toll Lane

GEORGETOWN EDITION

Development

A new mixed-use development could come to Georgetown after city ocials approved a waiver allowing a proposed 3.5-story building to exceed downtown height restrictions. “This is a real exciting corridor [where] we’re seeing a lot of redevelopment,” Georgetown Planning Director Soa Nelson said at a Dec. 10 City Council meeting. Georgetown City Council and the city’s Historic and Architectural Review Commission approved a development’s courthouse view protection waiver on Dec. 10 and Dec. 12, respectively. The waiver was needed for the building’s planning process, as the applicant and property owner Brian Birdwell is proposing an architectural feature atop the building called a cupola, which would reach up to 71 feet. Taller building planned downtown

A rendering shows the mixed-use building’s covered rooftop area and cupola, which was inspired by the city’s design guidelines.

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Sorting out details

The inspiration

The city’s unied development code suggests a maximum vertical height of 50 feet in the zone of the proposed building—o South Austin Avenue and Sixth Street—to allow for the Williamson County Courthouse’s dome to be viewable through- out dierent parts of Georgetown, Nelson said. However, in the 2024 downtown master plan, city ocials suggested adjusting the UDC to allow for dierent types of developments to be built downtown, she said. Nelson said city ocials agreed the UDC’s Austin

Avenue view corridor was “limiting the amount of building height that would be permitted in that area, which would limit the ability to actually bring the vision for a mixed-use development area into fruition.” Ocials will look to remove the Austin Avenue view corridor restriction and adjust downtown Georgetown’s maximum allowed height for buildings, Nelson said. A site plan and permitting is required before the building moves forward, a city ocial said.

According to city documents, the building’s preliminary designs include a covered restaurant, rooftop bar, oce space and a courtyard bar. “We’re trying to really make a statement feature as you enter into the historic district in Georgetown,” Birdwell said at the Dec. 10 meeting.

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