In a special called meeting on Monday afternoon, the Tifton City Council agreed to extend the city’s natural gas line to the Eldorado community. The council members voted unanimously to accept a bid of $210,000 from Little River Utilities of Omega to install the line.

Russ Dorman, utilities director for the city, told The Gazette after the meeting that the line must be installed by June 10 and that he had received a request for the natural gas line from an “ag user in Eldorado about a week and a half ago.” Dorman said the decision to extend the gas line had not ever been discussed at a city council meeting, but he had discussed it with city council members.

Dorman told council members at Monday’s meeting that the amount of gas used by the “ag user” would be the equivalent of the amount used by 430 residential houses.

He said the gas line presently stops at the new industrial park on Union Road but would have to be extended five additional miles to reach Eldorado. Dorman told The Gazette the ag user is presently using propane, but due to costs, wants to switch to natural gas.

Dorman said he had gotten two bids on the gas line project and the $210,000 bid was the lowest bid. He said it would take four years to pay off the investment, but the payoff could come earlier if other users got on line.

City Attorney Greg Sowell said, “We need to have a contractual obligation for this investment.” Dorman said the city had a contract.

Councilman Joe Lewis said, “I think it is a wise move.”

Councilwoman Marianna Keesee made the motion to accept the low bid from Little River Utilities and the motion passed by unanimous vote.

To contact reporter Jana Cone, call 382-4321, ext. 208.