One of Georgetown’s oldest residents, the 500-year-old oak tree at First Texas Bank on Austin Avenue, fell and was destroyed during Wednesday’s storm. Bank President Van Sewift said it was a great loss, and the bank is working to create something out of the fallen tree to give back to the community. Photo by Kathryn Manasco

Early voting details 

Where, when and how to vote early beginning Monday 

By CHRISTOPHER DE LOS SANTOS

Early voting begins Monday for residents of Williamson County, running from October 18 - 29. Election day is November 2.

Texas law requires voters who go to the polls in person to present a photo ID, but also allows exceptions. Certain expired IDs are allowed and those who cannot get a photo ID may provide other documents and sign a form to vote. 

Early voting schedule
• Monday, October 18 through Wednesday, October 27, from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Thursday, October 28, and Friday, October 29, from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.  
• Williamson County polling places are closed on Sundays.

Voter ID requirements

Residents who vote in person will have to show a photo ID as they check in at a polling place and receive their ballots.

Accepted types of photo ID include a Texas driver license, a Texas personal ID card, a Texas election ID certificate, a Texas handgun license, a U.S. military ID, a U.S. citizenship certificate with photo and a passport.

Voters over the age of 70 may present an acceptable ID that has been expired for any length of time, as long it is their ID and the information on the ID is otherwise correct. For voters aged 18 – 69, an ID can be expired for up to four years, as long as the information is correct. 

Voters who do not have one of these types of ID and cannot readily get one may present alternative documents at the polling place and sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration. 

Alternative documents for this declaration include copies or originals of government documents that show the voter’s name and an address, a current utility bill, a  bank statement; a government check; a paycheck; or a qualifying birth certificate. 

Voting by mail

Applications for Ballot by Mail and Federal Postcard Applications must be received no later than the close of business on October 22. 

If either of these application documents is faxed or emailed, the original application must be received in the elections office within four business days.

Applications for Ballot by Mail should be sent to: 
Mail:  Early Voting Clerk, P. O. Box 209 Georgetown, TX 78627 
Email: bbm@wilco.org 
Fax: 512-943-1634 

GISD Propositions D and E   

Prop D proposes partnership for aquatic center

By KATHERINE ANTHONY

Georgetown ISD’s bond Proposition D — which calls for the construction of a swim center and a full-program YMCA facility to be managed by the organization — is modeled after similar partnerships in other states, and Prop D proponents say it can work in Georgetown as well. 

Successful pool partnerships between school districts and YMCAs in Phoenix; Boise, Idaho; and Norman, Oklahoma; are evidence the model can meet both school and community needs in one facility, according to Scott Alarcón, chairman of the Yes for Georgetown ISD, the citizen committee promoting the district’s bond proposals. 

“Georgetown has always been about partnerships and this would be a fantastic one,” Mr. Alarcón said. 

Proposition D is one of a five-proposition school bond proposal on the November 2 ballot. Early voting begins Monday.

Jeff Andresen, president of the YMCA of Williamson County, along with YMCA Extension Director Cathleen Phelps and Mr. Alarcón recently met with the Sun to explain Proposition D — a proposal to build and manage a two-pool operation that would be home to GISD’s high school swim teams and a full-program YMCA facility. The pools would be an outdoor competition pool and an indoor pool for recreational swimming and swim lesson programming.

From the YMCA’s perspective, this partnership with GISD would be ideal.

“We would have been in Georgetown years ago if we had had a partner,” Mr. Andresen said. “The YMCA is the largest operator of pools in the United States. No one does pools better.”

Proposed partnership 

According to the Memorandum of Understanding that has been signed by GISD and the YMCA, GISD would pay 100 percent of the costs — $23.6 million — to build an outdoor competition pool for its high school swim teams, and shared indoor spaces such as locker rooms, lobby, and equipment and supply storage. Also included is half of construction costs of the indoor pool. 

GISD would pay for 100 percent of operating the outdoor pool (utilities and maintenance); and the YMCA would pay for 100 percent of staffing and administration.

GISD and the YMCA would evenly split the construction and operating costs of the indoor pool. 

The YMCA of Williamson County would pay $8 million for construction of spaces that would be used by Y programs.

The YMCA would pay 100 percent of the operation costs for Y programs.

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Georgetown charter amendments up for vote

By CHRISTOPHER DE LOS SANTOS

Voters who live inside Georgetown’s city limits will have nine propositions for changes to the city charter on their November 2 ballots. Early voting begins Monday. 

The city council forms a charter review committee every eight to 10 years to review the city charter and propose changes and updates. Council members selected these nine from a group of changes recommended by the citizen committee, and Georgetown City Council placed the amendments on the ballot by ordinance over the summer. 

A 10th proposition – related to alcoholic beverage sales at properties that have been annexed into the city since 2010, the last time an alcohol proposition was approved by Georgetown voters – will also be on the city ballot.  

Proposition A - I | Alcohol proposition

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District 6 candidates square off in forum ahead of early voting

By NICHOLAS CICALE

Discussing topics about the Courthouse Square, city growth and community engagement, the two candidates in the Georgetown City Council District 6 race faced one another during a candidate forum Thursday night. 

Organized by the Wilco League of Women Voters, the hour-long candidate forum was cordial, with candidates Cheré Heintzmann and Jake French answering prepared questions as well as those submitted by participants over Zoom. 

Pamella Mitchell, an LWV leader and District 6 resident, served as the forum’s moderator. 

“I feel like we have great choices in front of us, and it is actually a gift to District 6 that such talent has stepped up to this,” Ms. Mitchell said. “I hope that, regardless of what the outcome [of the election is], that you both stay engaged and involved, because the city needs you, and District 6 needs you.”

Early voting for the November 2 election begins Monday. 

Square safety | Confederate memorial | Downtown parking
Future growth | Community engagement

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Field of Honor flags a tribute to veterans, first responders

Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall scheduled

By CHRISTOPHER DE LOS SANTOS

The Georgetown Rotary Club will hold its fifth annual Field of Honor from November 6 - 14 at open grounds behind the Georgetown Recreation Center on Chamber Way in Georgetown.

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