Williamson County, Texas

The Williamson County TX-PACE program enables property upgrades, while creating jobs and improving the environment.  To date, the County’s TX-PACE program facilitated $1.77 million in new investment, saving two properties more than 1.9 million kWh in electricity and 1.7 million gallons of water per year.  More businesses and nonprofits should analyze how the Williamson County TX-PACE program can benefit properties.

Consider how Houston’s TX-PACE program recently impacted an 11-story office building in Houston:  $1.3 million in property improvements – two new chillers, a building automation system, and a complete LED fixture upgrade – financed over 20 years with no capital outlay.  Utility consumption reductions of 38% will provide $3.66 million in savings over the 20-year term.  As the table shows, these savings exceed the cost of the improvements.  In Corsicana, the program was used to upgrade an empty factory, resulting in the creation of between 60 and 80 new, permanent manufacturing jobs.

Click on Read More for rest of article that includes chart showing comparison of investments financing. 

As we begin the new year after holidays marked by indulging our pallets, many of us rush to the gym to get back in shape. In Williamson County, we have other opportunities that can help us shed pounds, reduce stress and enjoy the outdoors.

You don’t have to go far from your doorstep to find an array of federal, county, city and Municipal Utility District parks, trails and open spaces. Through collaboration and cooperative partnerships, Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department is working on long-range plans to connect trails and provide enough open space and facilities to meet the ongoing population growth and demand for these amenities.

https://www.facebook.com/WilliamsonCountyAnimalShelter/

Commissioner Cook joined county and city officials at the Jan. 24, 2018, groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter in Georgetown. Also at the event were Cheryl Schneider, director of Animal Services for the shelter; Daron Butler, president of the WCRAS Governing Board; and several staff and volunteers.

Each year the Women’s Transportation Seminar - Heart of Texas Chapter selects and invites two transportation leaders in the community to be honorary members of the organization, and Commissioner Cook was chosen. She is only one of two recipients selected this year!

The honor includes membership to WTS International with an affiliation to the WTS - Heart of Texas Chapter for one year. Lindsay Wood, P.E, president of the Heart of Texas Chapter said, “We sincerely appreciate your continued leadership of the advancement of women in transportation through your contributions to the greater transportation community in Central Texas.”

Commissioner Cook is shown in the photo speaking to the group on Wednesday, Jan. 17, about a county official’s role in transportation. She explained that state law allows a county to create or participate in a regional mobility authority, which is an independent government agency that addresses roads. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) was created in 2003 to improve the transportation systems in Williamson and Travis counties. In her speech she also discussed possibilities that could help pay for roads, such as raising the money with bonds, tolls and taxes, and creating road districts.

County government is like the gift that keeps on giving, except that the public services and security we provide you—our county resident—aren’t delivered just for Christmas. We do it year-round, especially our emergency and law enforcement providers.

What is it exactly that a county does? For instance, Williamson County, as well as our state’s other 253 counties, play a significant role in both public safety efforts and the criminal justice system. County government keeps communities safe by providing law enforcement, jails, the court system, and emergency preparedness and response services in the event of natural and man-made disasters.

Although they ride patrol cars instead of sleighs, (Click on Read More for the rest of the article)