Update - March 16
The City of Georgetown and the Red Poppy Festival Planning Committee announced March 16 the 2020 Red Poppy Festival has been rescheduled to Oct. 23-25.
“We know this is an important event to this community and have made rescheduling it to a safer time a priority,” Mayor Dale Ross said in a news release. “We are looking forward to seeing everyone come out in October for our first-ever POPPtober Fest.”
The city also closed the Georgetown Public Library, most Parks and Recreation facilities and the visitor’s center at 6 p.m. March 16 until further notice in an attempt to limit mass gatherings, the release said, adding private gatherings at parks and eecreation facilities that will have fewer than 50 people will not be required to cancel this time.
The Georgetown City Council also has scheduled a special meeting Thursday, March 19 at 4 p.m. to extend the local disaster declaration until the first April regular council meeting on April 14.
“We are doing everything we can now to prepare for the reality of confirmed cases in Georgetown and are following county, state, and national guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by minimizing large, social gatherings,” Ross said in the release. “The more we can limit interactions now, before Georgetown has a confirmed case, the less the virus will spread in our community. We appreciate your understanding, patience, and cooperation with these requirements.”
The changes are in response to new requirements issued by Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell that limit the number of people who can convene at a given time to 50 people or fewer through May 11, the release said, and officials will continue to monitor the situation daily to determine whether to extend or reduce this timeframe.
Georgetown Public Library
The library will be closed to the public starting 6 p.m. March 16 through May 11. People should hold onto their library materials until it reopens. The library does not charge overdue fines.
All WOW!mobile stops and outreach events are canceled through April 3, and Sun City stops are canceled through April 19.
Parks and recreation department
The recreation and tennis centers will be closed through May 11. All athletic field rentals and practices also are cancelled. Last week’s cancelation of all parks and recreation events, programs, and activities has been extended through May 11.
Private events expecting more than 50 people scheduled through May 11 at the Community Center, Parks Administration Community Room, Garey House, or other park pavilions are canceled. Full refunds and free rescheduling are available. For questions specific to parks and recreation facilities, people can email [email protected].
Garey Park will remain open at its regular hours.
City council, boards and commissions meetings
At this time, all regularly scheduled City Council meetings will go on as planned, though staff is working through options to hold these meetings remotely.
The public is encouraged to send written public comment by email to [email protected] and to watch the live stream of the meeting at gtv.georgetown.org or on the Government channel 10. Written citizen comment will be accepted up to 2:15 p.m. Tuesdays for the Workshop meetings and up to 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays for the regular council meetings.
The City will not be holding boards and commissions meeting until further notice, unless they have a State statutory requirement. The boards that will continue to meet if needed are:
- Planning and Zoning Commission
- Zoning Board of Adjustment
- Historic and Architectural Review Committee
- Building Standards Commission
- Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation
- Georgetown Economic Enhancement Corporation
Original post - March 13
The city of Georgetown is canceling all city programs, activities and events scheduled March 14-31, following guidelines from the Williamson County and Cities Health District.
"These cancellations are because of concerns about recent cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the region and as part of the national effort to slow and delay the spread of the illness, so we can reduce the peak number of people who are affected at a given time," a news release said.
A decision regarding the Red Poppy Festival on April 24-26 has not been made, and no city facilities are closing at this time, the release said. The city will continue to follow WCCHD guidance and coordinate with public health officials regarding the festival and other large gatherings, as well as the need to close facilities.
Additional updates about the coronavirus in Georgetown and cancelations will be shared as they become available at georgetown.org/coronavirus-information.
Georgetown Public Library
All events and programs, public and private, at the Georgetown Public Library are canceled starting March 14-31. The library will remain open to the public and the bookmobile will continue to operate, the release said.
The library is not accepting new reservations for its meeting spaces through April 30.
Parks and recreation department
All camps, classes, programs and activities offered by and at the parks and recreation department facilities through March 31 are canceled and full refunds are available, the release said. This includes all spring break camps, group exercise classes, sport practices and games, and lifeguard training. The March 17 Rescue at the Ranch event also is canceled.
All organized sport activities at rental fields, including the McMaster, VFW and San Gabriel fields, also are canceled.
Parks and Recreation Department locations will remain open to the public, with the exception of the splash pad at Garey Park.
Private events held at Parks and Recreation facilities will not be required to cancel at this time, but people have the option to reschedule at no additional cost or receive a full refund.
Other events
At this time, all regularly scheduled City Council and board and commissions meetings will proceed as planned.
The March 26 open house about the Austin Avenues bridges project has been postponed.
