CITY & COUNTY
News from Georgetown, Williamson County & Texas
6 of the 15 fastest-growing US cities are in Texas TEXAS Six of the 15 fastest-growing cities by percent change in the nation with a population of more than 50,000 people are located in Texas, according to data released May 18 by the U.S. Census Bureau. This includes the fastest-growing BY CLAIRE SHOOP Rank 1 Georgetown 75,620 86,507 City Population July 1, 2021 Population July 1, 2022
Georgetown City Council will meet June 27 and July 11 at 6 p.m. at 510 W. Ninth St., Georgetown. 512-930-3652. https://georgetown.org Williamson County Commissioners Court will meet June 27, and July 11 and 18 at 9:30 a.m. at 710 S. Main St., Georgetown. 512-943-1100. www.wilco.org MEETINGS WE COVER Workshop, the rm updating the city of Georgetown’s Downtown Master Plan, has received feedback from surveys and will move forward with developing projects to improve downtown. Public input showed a desire to protect the historic integrity of the Square, prioritize pedestrian-friendly spaces and improve connections through downtown. WILLIAMSON COUNTY Although the median sales valuation of homes in Williamson County decreased about 12% year over year, Alvin Lankford, chief appraiser of the Williamson Central Appraisal District, said in a presentation to Commissioners Court the total market value of the county rose $5 billion. WILLIAMSON COUNTY Commissioners Court approved a $100,000 grant for the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter at a June 6 meeting. The grant from nonprot organization Petco Love is awarded to entities who reduce euthanasia and euthanize animals responsibly. Under the shelter’s no-kill status, it saves 90% or more of its animals. The shelter is expected to use the money to fund a new position, continue its partnership with nonprot NUMBER TO KNOW This is the estimated population increase for the city of Georgetown from July 1, 2021- July 1, 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 10,887 HIGHLIGHTS GEORGETOWN Several initiatives within Georgetown’s Capital Improvement Plan are underway, including the design process for a new downtown city center and renovations to a re station. Phase 1 of the downtown city center—between the Georgetown Public Library, and Light and Water Works building—is set to begin this fall and be complete by spring 2024. GEORGETOWN Design organization Jail to Jobs and support animal wellness in the community.
RISING NUMBER OF RESIDENTS The city of Leander ranked fourth in the U.S. Census Bureau’s list of the fastest- growing cities with more than 50,000 residents. This chart shows the six Texas cities that ranked in the top 15.
Percent change
14.4% 10.9% 10.9%
city, Georgetown, which held on to the top spot for the second year in a row. Its population increased 14.4% year over year from 75,620 to 86,507. The data released estimates the population as of July 1, 2022 and compares it to July 1, 2021. The big picture: Texas took four of the top ve spots with Kyle, Leander and Little Elm ranking third, fourth and fth, respectively. Diving in deeper: Texas also had six cities on the list of the top 15 cities with the largest population growth
3 4
Kyle
95,438 99,032 51,238 51,838 67,093
57,470 74,375 55,357
Leander
5
Little Elm
8%
Conroe
101,405 104,707
6.3% 5.7%
11 13
New Braunfels
NOTE: DESPITE ITS POPULATION INCREASING BY 39.97% TO 9,099 AS OF JULY 1, 2022, THE CITY OF LIBERTY HILL IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO BE INCLUDED IN THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU’S ANALYSIS. SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU¡COMMUNITY IMPACT
Williamson County cities making pitches for bond funding category, adding 18,889 people. • Georgetown—the only city in Texas to rank on both lists—Hous- ton, Dallas and Frisco also made the top 15.
by numeric change. • Fort Worth topped that list, adding 19,170 people from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2022. • San Antonio ranked third in that
Two Step Inn festival to return in 2024
LESSONS LEARNED While City Council members and parks sta deemed the county music festival a success, they identied areas to improve.
BY GRANT CRAWFORD
Adding additional shuttle parking as demand outpaced supply Meeting with cell service providers to improve connections during the festival as the service area was overloaded Working with business owners to facilitate business at brick-and- mortar locations in the area
GEORGETOWN City Council opted to renew an agreement with festival presenter C2 Acquisitions May 23, making way for Two Step Inn Festival to return to the city next year with 35,000 available tickets and proposed dates of April 20-21. The Friends of Georgetown Parks and Recreation received over $1.2 million from the festival. Those dollars will go to the Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department.
BY GRANT CRAWFORD
WILLIAMSON COUNTY Residents could vote on a transportation bond in November as a committee of citizens is assessing the region’s needs. Several cities have sent their project proposals to the Williamson County Citizens Bond Committee, which met throughout May. The committee plans to bring a recommendation by June 27.
SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY IMPACT
Squirrels costing Williamson County ‘hundreds of thousands of dollars’ WILLIAMSON COUNTY Judge Bill Gravell said he’s gained a new “political foe” unlike any he has encountered before: squirrels. “Those squirrels, literally, have cost us hundreds of BY GRANT CRAWFORD After squirrels damaged an electrical transformer powering two chiller systems for the Williamson County Justice Center, o¥cials have brought in temporary equipment to cool the building. SQUIRREL DAMAGE
thousands of dollars,” Gravell said in a May 23 Williamson County Commissioners Court meeting. “There is no telling how much money we’ve actually spent on squirrels.” According to the county, squirrels recently grounded out a city of Georgetown electrical service pole transformer, causing damage to two chillers and other equipment at the Williamson County Justice Center.
Approximately $400,000 for new chillers $13,600 a month for temporary chiller New permanent chillers to arrive April 2024
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY¡COMMUNITY IMPACT
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GEORGETOWN EDITION • JUNE 2023
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