Local · Trusted · Free
The Morning Impact — your neighborhood's most important stories, delivered every morning.
Williamson County officials scheduled two upcoming listening sessions regarding the Justice Complex project on Aug. 22 and Aug. 27.
The events will allow residents to provide comments and feedback on the proposed jail and courthouse in Southeast Georgetown, according to a county news release.
What residents need to know
The come-and-go events will not have a formal agenda or presentation. Both will take place at the Williamson County EMS North Campus at 3189 S.E. Inner Loop.
On Saturday, Aug. 22, the listening session will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and on Thursday, Aug. 27, residents can attend the event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The history
Commissioners originally purchased 255 acres of land in southeast Georgetown on May 19 to house a new centralized justice center.
While officials say the location would allow for efficient government services, near the new administration building and other government buildings, residents have raised concerns over its proximity to schools and neighborhoods.
More recently, commissioners voted to slow down the project to spend more time on public engagement, they decided at an Aug. 4 commissioners court meeting.
“In my opinion, we're making a hundred-year decision,” Judge Steve Snell said at the meeting, “What is the rush? Why do we have to rush through this today? And I've heard inflation and cost, but it's more important to me that we get it right and we get what's going on the property, all that stuff that we get it right.”
While the motion passed 5-0 to pause the project and continue engaging the public, Precinct 3 commissioner Valerie Covey expressed a desire to not delay the project.
“We want to listen to folks, but we have made a ginormous financial decision to buy over $75 million worth of land, which it's high because it's 255 acres, but we have made some decisions on this court,” Covey said. “To say otherwise is disingenuous.”
Something to note
County staff members, especially those working in jail and justice operations, continue to request progress on the project to relieve space constraints and infrastructure deterioration in the current facilities.
"We're asking you all to put yourself in our environment, which is very different from what you all do every day and understand the needs and the complexity of the situation that we've been dealing with and will continue to deal with over the next 5 to 10 years,” District Court Judge Donna King said.
