South Lebanon council approves three-year natural gas contract for municipal facilities

The South Lebanon City Council on Sept. 4 approved Emergency Resolution 2025-36 authorizing a three-year purchase agreement with Symmetry Energy Solutions LLC to supply natural gas for municipal facilities.

City Administrator Jerry told the council that the municipal facilities rate included in the contract is 54.5 cents (¢) per therm, lower than the prior city rate of about 74¢ and lower than the aggregated residential rate of roughly 64.9¢ quoted in public mailings. Council members said mailings explaining the new rates were distributed to residents. The resolution was presented as an emergency measure and adopted by title after the council waived the two-reading rule.

The contract term is three years, as stated during the council discussion. Council member Brenda Combs moved to waive the two-reading rule; Council member Lisa Feder seconded. Council member Linda Allen then moved to adopt the resolution by title only; Feder seconded. Recorded votes were cast in favor by Linda Allen, Brenda Combs, Lisa Feder, Council member Better, and Council member Spicer; the motion carried.

Council discussion was limited to clarifying which accounts would receive the lower rate; staff confirmed that the contract applies to city buildings and municipal facilities rather than to individual residential customers. No additional conditions, amendments to the agreement, or fiscal figures beyond the per-therm rates stated on the record were provided at the meeting.

The council did not raise or vote on any separate ordinance or budget amendment tied to the contract during the Sept. 4 meeting. The resolution delegates authority to execute the purchase agreement to the named municipal signatories in the resolution text.

The council moved on to the next agenda item after the resolution was adopted.