Site totals 248 acres, ‘centrally located’
GEORGETOWN — After months of deliberation, Williamson County commissioners Tuesday approved the acquisition of 248 acres off Inner Loop and Southwestern Boulevard for the new Justice Complex.
Also, during the Commissioners Court session, the elected representatives gave the nod to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office to apply for a grant to fund a new boat and accessories for water rescues.
The Justice Complex will include a larger county jail, a state-of-the-art juvenile detention center facility, more courtrooms and expanded space for law enforcement and legal operations, planners said. The price tag of the complex is $76 million.
While Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey noted it was not set in stone, the county would build the Justice Complex on that exact spot, she added, “We chose this location because it is centrally located and easily accessible. It’s set up for utilities and roadways.”
The site makes sense, said County Manager Rebecca Clemons.
“The support for this location from law enforcement is very high,” Clemons said.
Covey said the project remains in the city limits since Georgetown is the county seat.
An information session about the Justice Complex is set for 5-7 p.m. April 21 at the EMS North Campus, 3189 Inner Loop, in classrooms A and B. On Jan. 15, the county held a session which allowed the community to choose between architectural designs for the interior rooms and the exterior of the building.
More information is available at www.wilcotx. gov/1801/Justice-Complex-Strategic-Planning.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Office received commissioner support to apply for the Firehouse Subs Safety Foundation Grant which, if awarded, pays more than $35,000 to cover the cost of an inflatable boat, accessories and a trailer for the county’s Swift Water Rescue Team.
In a previous court session, Sheriff Matt Lindemann told commissioners a boat had been damaged during the July 5 flooding.
In other March 24 business, the Sheriff’s Office received a $165,000 grant to outfit the department’s vehicles with bullet-resistant parts. Windshields and doors will be reinforced with bulletproof components for deputies’ safety, commissioners heard.
The commissioners also approved participation by deputies in the state Rapid DNA Program and the National DNA Index System.
The court will next meet 9:30 a.m. March 31 at 710 S. Main St. Sessions can be viewed online at wilcotx. gov/331/Commissioners-Court.
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“The support for this location from law enforcement is very high.”
— County Manager Rebecca Clemons
