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HomeMy WebLinkAboutreport.nov05© City of Georgetown, 2005 VOL.3 • NO.11 A Publication of the City of Georgetown November 2005 town of Hemphill, which was devas- tated by Hurricane Rita. A town with a population of about 1,100, Hemphill lies 30 miles north of Jasper. Georgetown Utility System electric crew members responding to aid Hemphill were Tommy Lockhart, Clayton Johns, Richard Pajestka, Eric Pouncey, and Ernest Vidaure. With a bucket truck, a digger derrick truck for setting poles, and flatbed truck, the five employees drove to Hemphill on September 25, the day after Rita made landfall. Some 600 power poles and most electric lines in Hemphill were downed by winds from Rita. Thousands of tall pine trees were blown over, creating widespread destruction of homes, businesses, and the electric lines. Luckily, no fatalities have yet been reported in Hemphill. Tommy Lockhart, who is the crew leader for the Georgetown employees, reports that they have been working long hours to reset poles and repair lines, but that the people of Hemphill have been providing hospitality and cooked meals, despite the tough conditions. The Texas Public Power Association is assisting publicly-owned utilities in the East Texas area, like the one in Hemphill, with offers of mutual aid from other public utilities like Georgetown’s. Poles and wire are being supplied by Hemphill utility, and Georgetown Utility Systems is documenting all expenses to seek later reimbursement from Hemphill or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In the days before Hurricane Rita came ashore, when it looked like we might experience hurricane conditions here in Georgetown, many people stocked up on non- perishable food, batteries, first aid supplies, and bottles of water. Falling trees from high winds could have snapped power lines and tor- rential rains could have flooded streets in low-lying areas. But lack of drinking water at your faucet was not a serious danger. Treated drinking water is stored in the City’s elevated storage tanks (or “water towers”). Water pres- sure is created through simple gravity. In the days prior to Rita’s landfall, the City maximized stor- age in the system to ensure ade- quate supply should the treatment plants lose power. The capacity of the tanks would provide several days of water flow, even with no electricity. Water conservation measures and back-up generators could extend this capacity. High winds are unlikely to damage the City’s elevated storage tanks, which As the City Reporter goes to press, a crew of five electric utility employees from Georgetown is working to restore power to the East Texas DOWN TOWN Happenings Hurricane Rita Relief Electric Employees Restore Power in East Texas are engineered to withstand sus- tained winds of 100 mph, equal to a category 2 hurricane. The City’s primary water treatment plants are not in areas where flood- ing occurs. This means that even with flooded low-lying areas and no electricity, the City could use emer- gency generators to produce and distribute drinking water to the taps in your home. Having an emergency kit in your home is a good idea, and you can visit the Red Cross web site at www.redcross.org under “Get Prepared” for more information on items to include in your kit. A disas- ter preparedness information kit is also available at the Georgetown Police Department, located at 809 Martin Luther King, Jr. Street. It’s also good to know that severe storms are not likely to affect the distribution of drinking water to your home or business. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS Would We Have Runnin g Water? DISASTER PREPAREDNESS The Georgetown City Reporter is a publication of the City of Georgetown Public Information Office located in City Hall, 113 E. 8th Street, Georgetown, Texas, 78626. For questions or comments, contact Keith Hutchinson, Public Information Officer for the City of Georgetown at (512) 930-3690, or by email at pio@georgetowntx.org. Nov. 4,First Friday Nov. 12,Market Days Nov. 25,Lighting of the Square: music and refreshments on Main Street Dec. 3,Christmas Stroll Dec 10 & 11,Holiday Homes Tour, sponsored by the Georgetown Heritage Society For details, call the Downtown Georgetown Association at (512) 868-8675, or the Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau at (512) 930-3545, or on their web site at www.visitgeorgetown.com. Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org While construction along SH 29 in front of the Wolf Ranch shopping center has caused traffic snarls in recent months, the prognosis for next year is looking better. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) expects that the project will be substantially complete by the end of November. The work on SH 29 was funded in part through a 1/2-cent sales tax in the City of Georgetown used to pay for new roads that are linked to eco- nomic development. Each year the Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation develops a list of transportation projects that Climbers at Reimers November 5 A day of rock climbing on the beau- tiful Reimer’s Ranch located on the Pedernales River. Climbs for both the beginner and the more advanced climber. Topics covered will include belaying, knot tying, climbing safety, and climbing technique. All climb- ing gear provided. Participants need to bring a daypack, sack lunch, and two quart-sized water bottles. Cost: $30 resident, $35 nonresident Construction Phase in FY 05/06 IH-35 southbound frontage road Segment from SH 29 to Leander Road, including turn lanes into Wolf Ranch and bridge over South San Gabriel River (see map) (Funds from previous GTEC budget) Projected completion: 2007 Wolf Ranch Parkway/CR 265 Connects SH 29 to Rivery Boulevard (see map) Projected completion: 2007 Sudduth Drive (Funds from previous GTEC budget) Road linking NE Inner Loop to Industrial Park Circle Projected completion: 2005 Park Central Boulevard Reconstruct roadway in industrial park on Westinghouse Road Projected completion: 2006 400 Main Street, 500 S. Austin Avenue, 1102 S. Austin Avenue Street, drainage, and streetscape improvements at three downtown development projects Projected completion: 2007 Pre-construction phase (includes route studies, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, permitting) Arterial SE1 A 3-mile long, 4-lane bypass segment connecting SH 130 at CR 104 to Inner Loop at CR 110 Projected completion: 2008 NE Inner Loop/Lakeway Bridge Construct new overpass and realign Lakeway Drive; TXDOT project with GTEC contribution Projected completion: 2007 Southwest Bypass 2.5 mile roadway connecting SH 29 to FM 2243 (second phase will con- nect from FM 2243 to IH-35) Projected completion: 2009 Williams Drive Widen to 5 lanes from Cedar Breaks Road to Jim Hogg Road; TXDOT project with GTEC contribution Projected completion: 2008 For more details on the GTEC budg- et or other transportation projects, go to www.georgetown.org. are linked to economic develop- ment, as directed by state law. In September, the City Council approved a $12.3 million budget for GTEC projects for the 2006 fiscal year. A future issue of the City Reporter will profile road mainte- nance projects for FY 2006 that are funded by the 1/4-cent street repair City sales tax. GTEC Project list for FY 05/06 More than 800 students from across Central Texas and 40 agencies attended the fifth annual Criminal Justice Field Day in San Gabriel Park on September 21. The Georgetown Police Department spon- sored the event for students interested in a law enforcement career. The displays and demonstrations included a SWAT vehicle, a mounted patrol from Austin, and a bomb squad robot. Thanksgiving Holiday November 24 & 25 City offices closed No trash pickup on Nov. 24 only New Roads Help Mobility Barton Creek Bikin’ December 10 Join us as we mountain bike through the scenic and challeng- ing Barton Creek. Topics covered will include trail riding techniques and field bike repair. Mountain bikes and helmets will be provided (Helmets will be required!) Participants will need to bring a day pack, two water bottles, and a sack lunch. Cost: $40 residents, $45 nonresidents (25% discount with own bike) For more information and registration information, call Adventure Program Coordinator Joe Armstrong at (512) 763-8365. Adventure Trips