The Williamson County Public Affairs Office has indeed something to celebrate, nabbing two prestigious accolades at the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO) annual conference held in San Antonio. The recognition comes in the shape of statewide awards meant to underscore the strides in communication efforts by such entities across Texas.
It was for the event celebrating Williamson County's significant milestone – its 175th birthday – that the office was granted the Award of Excellence in the Best One-Time Special Event category for areas with a population over 75,000. With 688 entries jockeying for distinction, this victory is no small feat. In a detailed account by wilcotx.gov, the county's demisemiseptcentennial celebration was described as a multifaceted jubilee, beginning on Friday, March 10, 2023. It organized a repertoire of events replete with local artists, a visually sumptuous laser light show that chronicled the county's journey through time, and the creation of a new mural adorning the Williamson County tax building that invited the hands of public participants over the course of the revelries.
Adding to the festivity, Williamson County coincided its celebration with the Downtown Georgetown Association's inaugural Market Days of the year. The birthday bash spilled into the weekend, punctuated by kid-friendly attractions like a train and inflatable amusements. Some 9,000 individuals, residents, and out-of-town visitors, it is estimated, soaked in the ambiance of the weekend's offerings. The county's “Still Making History” booth, after making rounds at various events throughout the proceeding months, culminated its rodeo at the Williamson County Fair and Rodeo in October 2023.
Furthermore, the Public Affairs Office's endeavors in the digital realm were likewise cited for excellence. They snagged another Award of Excellence for their new website, which was launched in the swelter of last summer. Williamson County's shift from a public domain to the more secure .gov domain was devised to foster a sense of credibility and trust among its constituents, in addition to enhancing the website's stability and mobile user experience. The fruition of working with CivicPlus resulted in a sleeker, more efficient web presence, paring down the number of pages by nearly 24% - a testament to the meticulous content audit process that was undertaken.
