Funds approved for local charities
GEORGETOWN — Rain didn’t stop officials from celebrating the debut of the Williamson County Administration building with a ribbon cutting, though the ceremony moved inside the new county commissioners’ chambers.
During the court session held immediately after the July 14 event, commissioners approved $800,000 in donations from the Williamson County Community Funds to four area nonprofits.
Former County Judge Bill Gravell offered the invocation at the beginning of the festivities at 1848 Texas Trail. State and county leaders in attendance included state Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, Sheriff Matt Lindemann and Precinct 4 Constable Paul Leal.
Brandon Simon, regional director for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, presented County Judge Steven Snell with a certificate and a folded flag.
“On behalf of (Cruz), we wanted to congratulate you on this momentous occasion,” Simon said. “This wonderful building will not only be a home for service but for community in Williamson County.”
Outside the chamber doors, booths from county departments, such as the Sheriff’s Office and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, were set up on both floors. Attendees who visited every booth were entered into a drawing to win prizes.
While the fun lasted from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Williamson County Commissioners Court held its first session in the new digs at the regular time of 9:30 a.m.
Commissioners voted to donate $200,000 each to the Hope House Academy, Operation Liberty Hill, Central Texas Table of Grace and Hill Country Community Ministries.
The money comes from the WCCF recreation funds.
The WCCF was established by the commissioners many years ago and is a nonprofit organization overseen by a board.
“These are not taxpayers’ dollars that are going into this (fund). This is from the tipping fees at the (Williamson County) landfill (in Hutto),” said Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long.
Some of the past projects or organizations benefiting from the WCCF are the Jonah Community Center, the Dickey-Givens Museum in Taylor, the Coupland Civic Organization, and the cities of Taylor and Hutto.
WCCF was created to support charities that benefit children, education, animal welfare and military veterans, sponsors said.
Also during the session, Snell announced Catherine Totty as the new county tax assessor-collector after Larry Gaddes resigned last month to take a state job.
Commissioners thanked all those who applied for the position.
“It was a tough decision because of the quality of candidates that we had,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey said.
Totty will be sworn in and begin her new role Tuesday, July 21.
The next commissioners court is 9:30 a.m. that day in the Williamson County Administration building.
Sessions can also be viewed online at wilcotx. gov/331/Commissioners-Court.
