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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReporter Feb 2011© City of Georgetown, 2011 VOL. 9 • NO. 2 A Publication of the City of Georgetown February 2011 2008 Bond Project Update In 2008, Georgetown voters authorized $46 million for road bonds and $35.5 million for parks and recreation bonds. The first bond project, the addition of turn lanes on DB Wood and Shell Road at the intersection with Williams Drive, was constructed this summer and is open to traffic. Road bond projects totaling $9.8 million and parks bond projects totaling $2.6 million are included in the 2011 budget. Here are the plans for those projects. Amphitheater in San Gabriel Park:The bleachers and small buildings have been removed from the former football stadi- um, which will become the amphitheater. The ticket booths from the old Birkelbach Stadium remain and will be incorporated into the new amphitheater, and a plaque with history of the stadium will be added. Design and permitting for the amphitheater are sched- uled for this year with construc- tion in 2012. Public input will be part of the design phase. Hike and Bike Trail:Design work will begin soon to extend the hike and bike trail along the south fork of the San Gabriel River from Blue Hole Park to parkland at Wolf Ranch. Trail access points along Scenic Drive are planned to provide links to the downtown area. Completion is projected for 2012. The Georgetown City Reporter is a publication of the City of GeorgetownPublic Communications Department, P.O. Box 409, Georgetown, Texas, 78627. For questions or comments, contact KeithHutchinson, public communications director at (512) 930-3690, or by email at keith.hutchinson@georgetown.org. Road Projects Parks Projects FM 971 widening: FM 971 will remain a TXDOT roadway with bond money used to provide a local match for engineering and construction. The City is working with TXDOT on the design. At the intersection with Austin Avenue, FM 971 will align with the future Northwest Boulevard Bridge over Interstate 35. The City is working to complete design and engineering so that the project will be ready for construction when TXDOT funding is available. Southwest Bypass:This bypass road will connect SE Inner Loop to Leander Road in southwest Georgetown. The routing study for the road was funded in the 2008 bond. The City is currently working on a funding agreement for the study with TXDOT. Engineering for the road is projected to begin this fall. FM 1460 widening:The City is acquiring right- of-way and is coordinating on design planning with TXDOT. Design and permitting is projected to be completed in 2013 with construction following, pending funding from TXDOT and Williamson County. Southeast Arterial 1: A segment of this future connector road between SE Inner Loop and the 130 Toll Road in southeast Georgetown was funded through the 2008 bond. The City is currently acquiring right-of-way for the project. Construction is scheduled to start in the spring of this year. Southwestern Boulevard will be extended to the south to connect with SE 1. Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org The Palace Theater The Sunshine Boys, Jan. 14 – Feb. 6 Evita, Feb. 18 – Mar. 20 Details at GeorgetownPalace.com, or call (512) 869-7469. First Friday, February 4 Downtown live music, shops and restaurants are open late. See the Downtown Georgetown Association website at TheGeorgetownSquare.com. Georgetown Swirl, February 26 Sample fine wines and foods in downtown businesses and enjoy live jazz music during this fun event from 6 to 9 p.m. on the downtown Square. Proceeds benefit the Main Street Program’s facade and sign grants. Go to Swirl.Georgetown.org for details and tickets. February Events Compact fluorescent lights use 70 to 80 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the amount of mercury in a typical CFL bulb is barely enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. However, because of this tiny amount of mercury, they should not be thrown away with household trash. Despite the trace of mercury, CFL bulbs have less impact on the envi- ronment than incandescent bulbs. Four to five times as much mercury is released into the air to generate Coming to Georgetown Advanced Metering System Twelve years ago, Georgetown was one of the first utilities in the nation to introduce automated meter reading. Using wireless technology to collect water and electric meter readings, the system meant that meter readers no longer had to walk house-to-house to manually read and record usage numbers. Beginning this year and completed in phases over the next three years, the City of Georgetown will be upgrading that system to replace obsolete compo- nents with advanced metering technol- ogy, also known as smart metering. The 40,000 new smart meters are part of a next-generation system that will allow for two-way communication between your meter and the utility. This will allow you to better monitor your energy and water use and provide options to save on your utility bills. The new system also enhances the capability of the utility to pinpoint water system leaks and electric system problems. When your water and/or electric meter is replaced, the work will be done outside your home or business. You may not even be aware that new equipment has been installed. Once in place, two-way technology will enable customers to access current water and energy usage data to better manage consumption. Look for more details about advanced metering implementation later this year. Dee Boardman Permit Technician Permitting and Inspections Customer Service Employee of the Year Kathy Ragsdale Utility Office Manager Utility Office Manager of the Year Misha Lee Recreation Specialist Parks and Recreation Customer Service Employee of the Year Eric Lashley Public Library Director Public Library Manager of the Year David Van Raalte Municipal Court Supervisor Municipal Court Supervisor of the Year Pete Polkinghorn Tennis Pro Parks and Recreation Employee of the Year City of Georgetown 2010 Employee Awards the electricity needed to power a standard bulb than a CFL bulb. To safely dispose of a CFL bulb at no cost, bring it to the Home Depot at 1303 Rivery Boulevard in Georgetown. There is a disposal container near the Returns desk by the entrance. Or you can dispose of them at the IKEA in Round Rock. For other safe disposal locations, go to earth911.com. Cupid’s Chase 5k Run/Walk Register now for the 16th annual Cupid’s Chase 5k Run/Walk on Saturday, February 5. This chip- timed run begins at 8:30 a.m. in downtown Georgetown at Seventh and Main streets. Register before January 22 for early-bird prices. Cupid’s Chase is sponsored by Georgetown Parks and Recreation. To register, use the new-and- improved site and online form at cupid.georgetown.org. For details, contact Erin Ruyle at Erin.Ruyle@georgetown.org or (512) 930-8459. Red Poppy Pageant The 2011 Red Poppy Pageant will be March 5 at 10 a.m. at the Ninth Grade Center. Get the details and register at poppy.georgetown.org. CFL Bulbs: Proper Disposal E-alerts for City Jobs Interested in working for the City of Georgetown? Now you can sign up for an e-alert whenever a new job has been posted. Sign up at jobs.georgetown.org.