Royston council approves $111,600 contract to expand natural gas capacity after residents report low pressure

ROYSTON, Ga. — Royston's City Council on Jan. 14 approved a $111,600 contract with Carter and Sloope Consulting Engineers to begin bidding, permitting and construction services for a 2025 Natural Gas Capacity Expansion Project after residents complained of persistent low gas pressure.

The motion, made by Councilman Jason Phillips and seconded by Councilman Matt Fields, passed 5-0. The contract authorizes engineering work to advance a project the city says is intended to boost pressure and deliver more capacity to areas west to Bold Springs and near the high school.

Two residents told the council the low pressure is harming poultry operations on Bold Springs Church Road. "The poultry houses in the area are either having problems with keeping the gas pressure up or the heaters are burning too long because the gas pressures are so low that they aren't running efficiently," said resident Garren Hall of 2720 Bold Springs Church Rd. He said many heaters need about 55 pounds of pressure to run properly and that "a lot of times they are under 5 pounds, and it is not enough to heat the houses." Hall added he lost production and said an extra week waiting to move birds cost him $570 a day.

Resident Eric Hall of 900 Guerry Hall Rd. told the council the Bold Springs community has had gas pressure problems for about a year and asked for a clear solution. "It has been a year that the Bold Springs community has had gas pressure problems, and nothing has happened to fix the issue," he said, and urged the city either to correct the supply or relinquish the service territory. He said switching back to propane would cost roughly $3,000 per house and urged reimbursement if growers are forced to make that change.

City Manager Lanier Dunn told the council the natural gas department has initiated the capacity expansion process and that staff is working to design, build and install a new regulator station near the high school intended to boost line pressure by about 25% (from roughly 120 psi to about 150 psi) to add capacity toward Carnesville and Bold Springs. The Carter and Sloope contract covers bidding, permitting, contracting and construction services to advance that work.

Council action was limited to approving the engineering contract; the meeting record shows no separate vote on construction funding. The council passed the motion 5-0 and directed staff to proceed with the procurement steps described in the contract.