Precinct One is a vital part of the county that covers parts of several cities, municipal utility districts and unincorporated areas. Our precinct is a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas, with a blend of tradition, technology and communities. Local governmental entities located entirely or partially in Precinct One include: the City of Austin, the City of Georgetown, the City of Round Rock, Anderson Mill Municipal Utility District, Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District, Fern Bluff Municipal Utility District, North Austin Municipal Utility District # 1, Springwoods Municipal Utility District, and the Brushy Creek Water Control Improvement District.

Williamson County is one of the fastest growing counties in Texas and indeed, in the United States.  To reduce congestion brought on by rapid growth, Williamson County is in the process of building and improving many of our roadways.  Some of the road improvements are being funded through road bonds which were authorized by the voters in 2000.  Currently, in Precinct One, the county recently completed the realignment and improvements to McNeil Road, we are working on extending Lakeline Blvd., and an extension of O'Connor Blvd. south to SH45 is in the planning stages.  Additionally, the Texas Department of Transportation recently opened SH 45 through Precinct One.  For more information on this project, click here (www.dot.state.tx.us).  Also, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority opened 183-A, a loop around the Cedar Park-Leander area. The road will begin just north of the westernmost portion of the precinct.  For more information on the Highway 183-A project, click here (www.ctrma.org).  The portion of Precinct One that is in the City of Austin is also in the Capital Metro Transportation Authority service area.  For Capital Metro information, click here (www.capmetro.org).

To improve and enhance our quality of life, the county has built a number of county parks in the last few years, including a major park called the Williamson County Regional Park.  The first phase includes 100 acres of soccer fields, tennis courts and much more.  For a map to the park, click (here).  Also, located along the beautiful and historic Brushy Creek in Precinct One is the Brushy Creek Regional Trail System. For information on the trail, click (here).  Other county park amenities include the East Williamson County Special Events Center, located in Taylor, and Berry Springs Park, located north of Georgetown.  We are also in the construction stage of Champion Park, a 35 acre park located along the Brushy Creek Regional Trail.  To see the concept plan for the park click (here).  Additionally we are building the Lake Creek Trail from near Parmer Lane to Broadmeade Avenue.  For more information on all of the county parks, contact the county parks system staff at (512) 260-4283 or email jrodgers@wilco.org.

Many major employers and retail centers are located in Precinct One including:
Dell Computer, La Frontera, Round Rock Premium Outlets, IKEA, Manitowoc Boom Trucks, State Farm Insurance, Sulzer Orthopedics, TECO-Westinghouse. Several local newspapers cover our area including the Austin American Statesman, the Round Rock Leader and the Williamson County Sun. Precinct One is also the home to several golf course communities including Avery Ranch and Teravista. For more information on businesses in Precinct One, visit the local chamber of commerce web sites: the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce.

Education is important to the future of Williamson County. Round Rock Independent School District, Georgetown Independent School District, and Leander Independent School District are three fine public school systems in our precinct. Also, we are pleased to share the new site of the Round Rock Higher Education Center-Texas State University with precinct four. The first structure named the Avery Building, will  serve approximately 3500 college students from our area and offer a variety of college level courses. For more info, go to http://www.rrhec.txstate.edu/.

Health care is vital to any community and precinct one is proud to be the home of Round Rock Medical Center/St. David’s, Georgetown Medical Center/St. David’s, plus the soon to open Scott and White University Medical Campus and Hospital.  Also, the site of the upcoming Seton Williamson County Hospital is located immediately adjacent to precinct one.

All in all, Precinct One and indeed, all of Williamson County, is a great place to live and work!

Since taking office, Commissioner Birkman has been involved in a variety of issues. She currently serves as president of the Williamson County Conservation Foundation, which is an advisory board to the commissioner’s court on endangered species and habitat preservation issues.  Commissioner Birkman is a member of the county’s Health Benefits Committee, that oversees the county’s health and retirement benefits plans for the county’s employees, dependents and retirees. Mrs. Birkman also serves on the board of the Brown Santa program, which is sponsored by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, and provides toys and gifts to the needy children of Williamson County who live in the unincorporated areas and cities without their own programs during the holiday season. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Austin San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District which is working on a commuter rail line.  Commissioner Birkman also serves on the county's Mental Health Task Force. this group is working to improve the quality of care for the county's mentally ill.  Commissioner Birkman is involved in a variety of community activities as well such as serving on various committees at St. Philips Methodist Church, which she and her family have been active members since 1989, and volunteering and sponsoring at numerous charitable events. She is a member of the Round Rock and Georgetown Chambers of Commerce, the Austin Chapter of People Against Violent Crime, the Williamson County Historical Museum and the Williamson County A&M Club and other organizations. She also participates in many parent activities with her husband, Rick, at the school which their two youngest daughters attend. In her infrequent spare time, Commissioner Birkman enjoys traveling with her family, reading murder mysteries and watching any episode of “Law and Order” on TV.

As we prepare for the long Memorial Day weekend, I urge you to take time to go by the Williamson County Justice Center in Georgetown.  There on the corner of 4th and Forest streets stands the Nathan Chapman Memorial area.    The centerpiece of the small area is the magnificent statue of SFC Nathan Ross Chapman.   It towers above the corner and serves as a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by many for our freedom. SFC Chapman, whose parents Will and Lynn Chapman live in Sun City, was the first American soldier killed by enemy fire in Afghanistan in the War on Terror.  He was killed on January 4, 2002.  The memorial area is dedicated to “all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of liberty while serving the American people in this war.”  The other soldiers that have died in this war also are honored there with small plaques that give their name, hometown, rank, branch of service and date of death.   The list is as follows:

1.      PFC Ricky A. Morris, Georgetown- US Marine Corp-March 18, 2004

2.      CPL Steven P. Gill, Round Rock-US Marine Corp Reserve- July, 21, 2004

3.      2^nd LT Brian D. Smith, Austin-U.S. Army-July 2, 2004 

4.      CPL Joseph E. Fite, Round Rock-US Marine Corp Reserve-Jan. 9, 2005

5.      Lance CPL Roger D. Castleberry-Cedar Park-US Marine Corp Reserve-Aug. 1, 2005

6.      SSGT Christopher M. Zimmerman, Austin-US Marine Corp.-Sept. 20, 2006

If you know any of the families of these heroes, please call or write them a note to thank them for their sacrifice.   If not, please take a moment to reflect on their loss and honor these seven fine young men from our community who died for all of us.

            The Nathan Chapman Memorial Fund presented the statue to the citizens of Williamson County on the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9-11-01.   I was honored to attend that ceremony and accept the statue on your behalf.  I also attended the recent gathering in which two additional plaques were dedicated.  Even though I hope and pray that I will not need to attend another such ceremony, as the daughter of a career military officer, I know first hand the sacrifices made by members of the military are done willingly.  For example, the father of Second Lieutenant Brian D. Smith told us about how after 9-11, Lt. Smith joined the army and chose not to serve as a lawyer, as he was trained to do, but as a combat soldier because he felt it was the right thing to do.

            The area is funded through private donations and maintained by the county.   For more information on the fund or to donate, go to www.nathanchapmanfund.org.  Currently, most of the donations collected are directed to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund, which distributes and administers scholarships and educational assistance to the children of military personnel who have died in the War on Terror.

            In closing, while attending a family picnic or enjoying a beautiful day in Central Texas this Memorial Day weekend, please also think about the words on one of the plagues found in the Nathan Chapman Memorial Area, which states, “May the heroes here memorialized live forever in the hearts of all Americans and all freedom loving people everywhere.”

For more information on this or any county issue, please contact me at lbirkman@wilco.org or 733.5380.

The office of Lisa Birkman, commissioner for Precinct One, is here to serve the citizens of the precinct! We are located at 400 W. Main St., Ste. 216, Round Rock, TX 78664. Phone number: (512) 733-5380 . Fax number: (512) 733-5384. Email: LBirkman@wilco.org. For a map to the office, click (here). We are open to the public from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., but occasionally we might be touring county facilities or attending meetings. If you would like to meet with the commissioner or a staff member, please contact us to set up an appointment. We would love to meet with you and hear your needs and concerns! For help, please contact Tammy Smith, assistant to the commissioner, tsmith@wilco.org or Mary Clark, executive to the commissioner, mclark@wilco.org.  Also, we now have a monthly county electronic newsletter. To subscribe, click (here).

For a comprehensive directory of County services, click (here).

MAP of the County with the precinct boundaries outlined, showing which cities they serve.

As Williamson County grows, so do employment opportunities with the Williamson County Government. Besides being a great place to work, we offer an excellent employee benefits package.

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