WilCo commissioners approve land purchase, funding for proposed justice center

Williamson County commissioners formally authorized a land purchase and funding mechanism May 19 for a 255-acre tract in southwest Georgetown intended for the justice center.

What happened

Located on SE Inner Loop adjacent to the new county administration building, commissioners said the location will allow for efficient government operations, and meet the needs of the growing population.

The vote to close on the land sale passed 4-0, with County Judge Steve Snell absent.

Commissioners also authorized up to $150 million in tax anticipation notes, a short-term funding strategy to minimize interest, that will cover the $76 million land cost.

What they’re saying

Many county residents spoke during the public comment period to oppose the location of the proposed justice center. Located near Saddle Creek, Maple Creek and Carlson Place communities, as well as Wagner Middle and Mitchell Elementary schools, the majority of residents in attendance said this is not an appropriate location for a county jail.

“I recognize that every county must accommodate necessary but undesirable facilities such as landfills, transfer stations, and jails. However, the placement of those facilities matters greatly,” resident Amy Schillerstrom said.

Commissioners acknowledged the comments and concerns of residents, but decided to proceed with the project.

“In my years on the Commissioner's Court, there's hard decisions that we have to make, and this ranks up there with one of the hardest ones because any location that we would pick, there's going to be individuals [affected],” Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey said.

Some context

County officials said the current justice facilities have urgent infrastructure needs that require timely attention, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

One of the most critical needs is additional courtrooms, Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles said. In addition, the current jail in downtown Georgetown is aging and nearing capacity, Precinct 1 Commissioner Terry Cook said.

By building on this specific 255-acre tract, the county aims to consolidate services and add to a government campus, which includes adjacent county facilities, Covey said.

In case you missed it

Commissioners had previously postponed the land purchase and funding at a May 12 meeting to allow for more public input, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

The county originally approved the purchase agreement for the land March 24.