Georgetown council ratifies executive-session actions, adopts utility ordinance, approves rezoning and midyear budget amendment

Georgetown — The Georgetown City Council on May 27 unanimously approved four motions that were discussed in executive session and completed several legislative items including adoption of an updated wastewater surcharge ordinance, rezoning of a 10-acre portion of a 25-acre parcel to Business Park, setting a public hearing on water and wastewater impact fees and a midyear budget amendment.

The council authorized the city to accept a property-owner settlement counteroffer of $4,000,000 to acquire right of way and fee simple interests in parcels identified as WCAD parcel ID R03886 and R382189 (Georgetown Railroad Company, Inc.) for the Southeast Center Loop roadway expansion project. Mayor Pro Tem Pitts moved the action; the motion passed unanimously, with council members voting in favor during open session.

The council also approved an amendment to the city's engagement letter with the law firm Hawkins, Delafield and Wood LLP, ratified certain bilateral electric power transactions and amended the trading authority policy consistent with terms discussed in executive session, and authorized the city manager to sign an agreed termination of the water-supply agreement executed Dec. 30, 2024, with Gatehouse Water LLC and to begin negotiations with Gatehouse Water LLC for purchase of assets. All four executive-session motions were approved unanimously in open session.

On the legislative agenda, the council completed the second reading and adoption of an ordinance updating the wastewater surcharge. City staff said the ordinance updates the surcharge methodology to recover costs of treating abnormal or high-strength wastewater typically from food-service establishments, breweries and wineries; it adds two sampling points and aligns surcharge thresholds with current treatment-plant limits. Council approved the ordinance on a unanimous vote.

Council voted to set a public hearing date of July 22, 2025, for proposed amendments to utility impact fees for water and wastewater. City staff said the update is a two-year review required by state rules that will reflect model updates, land-use assumptions and financial analyses; staff noted ongoing work by the impact-fee committee and proposed subsequent workshop and reading dates should the council need additional review.

The council approved a rezoning request to rezone 10 acres (a portion of a 25-acre parcel generally located midblock on Commerce Boulevard between Blue Ridge Drive and Park Central Boulevard) from General Commercial C3 to the Business Park (BP) district. Staff advised the requested BP zoning is compatible with surrounding industrial and commercial uses and recommended approval; the planning and zoning commission recommended approval as well. No members of the public signed up to speak on the item.

In finance business, the council adopted on second reading a midyear amendment to the FY2025 budget to better align personnel reorganization timing and other items with audit preparation; the ordinance passed unanimously.

The consent agenda that preceded the legislative items passed without recorded opposition.

Votes at a glance: - Authorize acquisition of right of way and fee simple from Georgetown Railroad Company, Inc. for Southeast Center Loop — motion moved by Mayor Pro Tem Pitts; approved unanimously; consideration: $4,000,000 (settlement counteroffer). - Amend engagement letter with Hawkins, Delafield and Wood LLP — motion approved unanimously; details per executive session. - Ratify bilateral electric power transactions and amend trading authority policy — motion approved unanimously. - Authorize termination of water-supply agreement with Gatehouse Water LLC (12/30/2024) and begin asset-purchase negotiations — motion approved unanimously. - Wastewater surcharge ordinance (second reading and adoption) — approved unanimously; updates surcharge sampling and thresholds for high-strength wastewater from commercial customers. - Set public hearing for utility impact fees (water and wastewater) — public hearing set for July 22, 2025; motion approved unanimously. - Rezoning: portion of 1201 Westinghouse (10 acres) from C3 to Business Park — approved unanimously; planning & zoning recommended approval; no public commenters. - Midyear FY2025 budget amendment (second reading and adoption) — approved unanimously.

The council did not record roll-call tallies in the public portion of the meeting transcript; motions in open session were announced as passing unanimously. Several items were described as acted upon pursuant to terms discussed in executive session; the council did not disclose those executive-session deliberations in open session.