Macon councilman wants gas company to pay for memorial light

MACON - A Macon city councilman wants to keep an eternal flame for veterans burning outside City Hall -- but he doesn&#39;t think the city should have to pay for it. <br> <br> Councilman Ed DeFore has written to two gas companies asking them to provide free natural gas for the flame, which costs the city $250-$400 a month to keep lighted. <br> <br> A company spokeswoman says Shell Energy Service Company has never received a similar request. <br> <br> The company&#39;s Georgia manager ``feels the request has merit&#39;&#39; but wants to ``personally explore possibilities with city leaders as to how this proposal might be implemented,&#39;&#39; she said. <br> <br> The council did not act on the proposal Monday. <br> <br> If the resolution came to a vote, Councilman Jimmy Patton said he would likely vote against it because the city put it in place and it&#39;s the city&#39;s memorial.