Georgetown City Council approved a $300,000 contract for debris clean up from Winter Storm Mara, which passed over Central Texas Jan. 31-Feb. 2, during its Feb. 14 meeting.
Georgetown has a special curbside pickup event scheduled to begin Feb. 27. City of Georgetown residents can place limb and tree debris on the curb to be picked up. Residents can also drop off unlimited tree debris during set times behind the Collection and Transfer Station at 1111 N. College St., Georgetown.
Assistant City Manager Wayne Nero said the cleanup will likely cost more than $300,000.
According to the contract with Global Emergency, City Manager David Morgan can approve additional spending up to $600,000. If funding beyond that total is required, City Council would need to approve it, Communications Manager Keith Hutchinson said.
“If further money is required, the city manager can utilize up to $600,000 of that total; if more money is required, then a future approval by City Council would be needed,” Hutchinson said.
On Feb. 14, Nero spoke at a Georgetown City Council workshop about the city's response to Winter Storm Mara.
“Due to freezing temperatures and more than half an inch of ice accumulation, ice on bridges, damaged trees and downed power lines became our biggest problem,” Nero said.
About 4,000 Georgetown residents were without power Feb. 1 between 4-10 a.m.
By 10 p.m. Feb. 2, more than 3,900 residents had power restored, and fewer than 100 residents remained without power. Remaining outages after that time were due to damaged equipment on the residents' side, Hutchinson said.
The winter storm also affected public safety. During the week of Jan. 24, the Georgetown Police Department reported 38 car crashes. Reports started to rise Feb. 2-3, bringing the total to 80 crashes.
The Georgetown Fire Department conducted safety checks with its State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry Program, which enables safety inspectors to visit residents who might need to be checked on or receive additional medical care to ensure their safety.
Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell issued a disaster declaration Jan. 31 due to severe winter storm conditions. Under the Texas Government Code Section 418.108, the disaster declaration gives public officials the right to exercise all legal actions necessary to protect the health, safety and well-being of county residents.
The city encourages all residents to visit their website in regards to brush cleanup.
