Royston Council approves CDBG application for Cook Street water-line and awards engineering contract

Royston City Council voted Dec. 10 to authorize an application for Community Development Block Grant — Economic and Infrastructure Program (CDBG-EIP) 2025 funding to extend a water main on Cook Street that City Manager Lanier Dunn said would serve the broader area and is directly tied to the Dill's Food City reconstruction.

Councilman Kenneth Roach moved to adopt the resolution; Councilman Jason Phillips seconded and the motion passed, 6-0. Dunn read the resolution at the meeting and described the project as a water-line extension that would improve service while supporting the nearby commercial reconstruction effort.

At the same meeting the council also awarded the engineering contract for the CDBG-EIP water-line project to Thomas & Hutton, following a review committee recommendation. Dunn said four firms submitted proposals and qualifications; Councilman Jason Phillips moved to award the contract and Councilman Matt Fields seconded. The award motion passed, 6-0.

The grant application and awarded engineering services are intended to advance design and permitting for the Cook Street extension; Dunn indicated the application and procurement steps are part of the same grant-driven project. The resolution and contract award do not themselves obligate construction funding beyond the proposed grant application.

Other procedural votes that evening included routine approvals of prior minutes and the meeting agenda and a 2025 alcohol license renewal for Food Lion, all by 6-0 votes. The Council did not set construction start dates at the meeting; next steps are completing the grant application and contracting phases.