Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutreporter.dec04VOL.2 • NO.8 A Publication of the City of Georgetown December 2004 © City of Georgetown, 2004 automobile accident, and they unwittingly cross paths several more times before the end of the novel. The tragic story that Boyle weaves will test the reader’s conscience about immigration, unemployment, discrimination, and social responsibility. This is a thought-provoking book that should generate much discussion in our community. In the last year, City Manager Paul Brandenburg has directed a cus- tomer service initiative in the City. In the last several months, Brandenburg has personally trained all City employees in customer service expectations, which includecourtesy, professionalism, honesty, attention, promptness, and resolution/solution. He also has been working with division directors and department heads to develop strategies for improving, enhancing, and measuring customer service in each City department. Pictured are committee members who developed a new customer service mission statement for the City. Committee members not shown: Jessica Silbaugh (Community Services) and David Morgan (Police). Georgetown readers have turned in their ballots, and The Tortilla Curtain, by T.C. Boyle, is the winner for Georgetown Reads! Approximately 250 people voted and The Tortilla Curtain was the winner by a wide margin. The library hopes people will read The Tortilla Curtain and participate in Georgetown’s first “One City, One Book” project called Georgetown Reads! Discussion groups and other activities related to The Tortilla Curtain will take place beginning in mid-January. The library has ordered twenty copies of the book and local bookstores also are ordering a supply, in case you wish to buy your own copy. The Tortilla Curtain, published in 1995, contrasts the lives of illegal immigrants Candido and America Rincon, whose circumstances force them to think every moment about how they will survive until tomorrow, with the lives of Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher, wealthy Californians whose lives are privileged, politically-correct, and focused primarily on the future. While leading their parallel but widely different lives, Delaney and Candido meet because of an Nov. 2nd City Bond Election Results Proposition 1: New Public Library For: 69% Against: 31% Proposition 2: City Recreation Center expansion and renovation For: 58% Against: 42% Proposition 3: City Community Center in San Gabriel Park, expansion and renovation For: 65% Against: 35% Projected year of completion New Library: 2007 Recreation Center (2 phases): 2009, 2010 Community Center: 2007 Details on the new facilities are available at www.georgetown.org. Customer service is Job No. 1 for city employees Customer service committee members: (clockwise from top right) Andy Hammack (Georgetown Utility Systems), Carla Benton (Planning and Development Services), Fran Fitzner (Library), Danella Elliott (Finance & Administration), Christie Sponsel (Human Resources), and Gary Traxler (Fire). Rita Kirkpatrick, library assistant, enjoys a quick read during a break to see what all of Georgetown is reading. Votes Are In For Georgetown Reads! plugged into a 110 volt outlet, and wired into a single 220 volt appliance receptacle, to the simple act of strip- ping two wires and plugging them into the two slots of a common elec- trical outlet. Possibly the most frightening of all is the inattention paid to electricity where there is exposure to children. In several instances, we have found electrical boxes without covers, allow- ing opportunity for small hands to touch raw wires and come into con- tact with enough electrical voltage to cause serious injury or death. When fire inspectors observe electrical hazards like the ones cited above, the offending makeshift wiring is immedi- ately confiscated by the inspector. The Georgetown Fire Department has a growing collection of illegal electrical arrangements on display in the inspec- tions office, on what is known as “The Wall of Shame.” Do we think that people who rig up such electrical contraptions are bad people? No, in the vast majority of cases, peo- ple don’t mean to do harm, but are unaware of the danger to which they have exposed themselves, their employees, and their customers. They are merely trying to “make do,” or save a small amount of money by not employing a professional electrician. But the liability they incur by these acts can cost enough to cause them to lose their business, not to mention having to live with the fact that they caused someone’s disfigurement or death as a result of their actions. This is why we want people to know that all industrial, commercial, institu- tional, and public buildings in Georgetown are required to have all permanent wiring in conduit, and all work must be done by licensed profes- sionals. Extension cords are not allowed for permanent wiring. All electrical installations must be inspected and approved before use. Information about inspections and permits is available on the City web site at www.georgetown.org under “Permits.” Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org “It’s a Wonderful Life” Christmas Stroll Dec. 4 NEWSbriefs! It’s the time of year for hanging up strands of lights, and the twisted web of electrical cords that sometimes results. The winter months are also a time for indoor, do-it-yourself projects and home renovations. So it’s a good time to think about electrical cords, safe wiring, and fire hazards that can be prevented. Georgetown fire inspectors have dis- covered a startling and unbelievable SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Street Light Out? Report it online at www.george- town.org. (Under Features on the homepage.) Library Now Open On Sundays Since October 16, the Public Library has been open an additional two hours on Saturdays. The new Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starting November 21, the library will be open on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Funds for Sunday hours were approved in the 2005 fiscal year City budget. City of Georgetown Offices will Close for Thanksgiving Thursday, Dec. 23 Friday, Dec. 24 No Trash Pickup Dec. 25, City of Georgetown TDS customers (Dec. 24, normal pickup) Pets Need a License All pets that reside in the city limits of Georgetown are required to have a pet license. To purchase a license, bring your pet’s proof of current rabies vaccination to the Animal Shelter. The cost of a license is $5.00 for animals that are spayed or neutered, or $15.00 for unaltered animals. For seniors who have a pet, the license is free if the pet is spayed or neutered (limit one free license per person). Licenses are renewable annually. The Georgetown Animal Shelter has new hours: Open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Electrical Cords and Wiring Safety A message from your Fire Marshal, Tom Leggitt array of electrical handiwork done by those with little knowledge in order to spare the cost of a professional electri- cian. Some of it is quite ingenious. Some of it would be comical, if not so serious. Many of the amateur wiring jobs we have discovered are potential- ly deadly. Situations found by inspectors range from the complicated undertaking of combining two extension cords, each Noon to Live Entertainment, Santa’s Workshop Children’s Area, 8 p.m.Arts & Crafts vendors, Food Court 2 p.m.“It’s A Wonderful Life,” live stage production at The Palace Theater (free admission this performance only) 4:30 p.m.Christmas Stroll Parade Enjoy visits with Santa and complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides immediately following parade. Admission to Stroll is free. A donation to Brown Santa or Blue Santa is greatly appreciated. Call the Downtown Georgetown Association at 868-8675 for details. HOLIDAY EVENTS Dec. 3 First Friday,a celebration of the Arts, 5 – 8 p.m. Dec. 4 Breakfast with Santa,8 – 11 a.m., Fire Station 1, 816 S. Main Street, 930-3473 Dec. 5 Razzle Dazzle,2 p.m. & 7 p.m. at Georgetown HS Performing Arts Center, to benefit The Georgetown Project, 864-7799 Dec. 3-5 Sun City Kiwanis Christmas Home Tour,864-0108 to benefit youth in Williamson County Dec. 11 Second Saturday Market Days,10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Enjoy extended shopping hours Downtown in December.