“I think [what’s] so great about Georgetown, Texas, is even as we continue to grow in population size, we're able to maintain that small-town charm,” Schroeder said.
What you need to know
While Georgetown continues to see population increases, a top concern for officials is ensuring the city has enough treated and raw water resources for decades to come, Schroeder said. Part of this includes working to get the first phase of the South Lake Water Treatment Plant online by summer.
The plant will bring an additional 22 million gallons per day of treated water online through its first phase and another 22 mgd in its second phase—set to be completed in 2026, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Additionally, City Council members approved a 30-year agreement with GateHouse Water LLC on Dec. 30, which will add 16.5 mgd from the Simsboro Aquifer in Lee County, according to previous reporting by Community Impact. The agreement came after city officials partnered with EPCOR in August 2023 to receive 32-55 mgd of treated groundwater by 2030.
“You can't have houses, you can't have businesses, can't have advanced manufacturing unless you have water,” Schroeder said. “So we—as a community, as a county, as a region, as a state—are going to have to figure this issue out.”
Schroeder said officials could sign another possible water service agreement in the coming weeks.
Other projects
Several construction projects are underway in Georgetown, including work on Austin Avenue’s vehicular bridges, which is set to finish in spring 2026, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Schroeder said construction is on time and will be followed by work on the pedestrian bridges.
On Jan. 28, City Council members will decide if delays are necessary for other ongoing road projects, as officials have seen higher-than-anticipated costs for construction since the 2021 mobility bond passed, he said.
“We had very conservative estimates on what we were projecting inflation to be at, and hey, guess what? Inflation blew us all out of the water,” Schroeder said. “We might have to make some difficult decisions on whether to delay more and more projects so that we can get the other ones done.”
Williams Drive is one road mentioned in the bond, with an original projected cost of $10.19 million. The city’s website lists the project’s construction time frame as winter 2024-26.
On the other hand
Schroeder said he’s excited to see the downtown parking garage reach completion this year. The $19.8 million, 315-space garage is expected to wrap up in September, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
“For our downtown to continue to flourish like it has, we believe that the parking should be a public amenity so that folks can maximize the development potential on those downtown properties,” Schroeder said.
What else?
Schroeder said it takes staff to foster safety within cities, and the No. 1 budget item every year is either the police or fire department.
“Public safety is an expensive luxury that we're committed to funding,” Schroeder said.
In January 2024, the Georgetown Police Department launched a crisis intervention team to respond to mental health incidents, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Schroeder said he believes the team has helped “a bunch.”
“We're going to try to get folks the help they need to get them off our streets, to get them the mental health services they need, because we believe that that's the kind and compassionate thing to do,” Schroeder said.
In the wake of a recent cold weather snap, moderator KVUE anchor Bryan Mays asked Schroeder about the need for additional services for people experiencing homelessness. Schroeder said there's a distinction between the need for warming centers and a homeless shelter.
“I don’t think we need a homeless shelter,” Schroeder said. “We are a more conservative community. We're always going to be a lower tax, lower regulatory and lower service environment.”
An upcoming point-in-time count scheduled to take place late January will measure Williamson County’s unhoused population, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
Also of note
Georgetown’s third annual Two Step Inn festival at San Gabriel Park is scheduled for April 5-6. The first festival in 2023 boosted economic growth by $99.7 million, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
“In speaking to our local business owners, who understandably were concerned ... most of the folks you talk to will tell you that they have great weekends at their business, even on that festival weekend,” Schroeder said.
The Friends of Georgetown Parks and Recreation nonprofit contracts with C2 Acquisitions to organize the festival, Schroeder said. C2 Acquisitions then donates about $1 million each year to the Parks Foundation, he said.
“That money goes directly back into our public parks system for things that helps us on our city budget,” Schroeder said.
Council members approved a contract in May to keep the festival coming back to Georgetown until 2027.
Legislative approach
As the 89th Texas legislative session begins, Schroeder said he is trying to maintain local control. The last few legislative sessions have had a significant impact on the community, as control shifted from the local level to the state level, he said.
“We're fortunate to have state representatives and [a] state senator who are happy to have conversations with us, to hear from us, and to allow us to try to impact legislation,” Schroeder said.
A legislative agenda was put together by Georgetown residents, Schroeder said. He encourages community members to reach out to elected officials, and residents can sign up to receive updates on the legislative session through the city’s website.
What residents should know
In an effort to promote transparency and instill trust within the community, Schroeder recommends residents attend Georgetown City Council meetings and visit the city’s website to review the budget or project updates.
“Tell us if there's something that you want on the website that’s not on the website; I promise you, we'll figure out a way to do that,” Schroeder said.
Quote of note
“We want to live in a place where other people want to live too, and we continue to do everything in our power to address the impacts of that growth, whether it's infrastructure or public safety,” Schroeder said.
