Natural gas comes to White Co.

CLEVELAND - It was called as an event to remember: a ceremonial wrench-turning recently signifying the arrival of natural gas service to White County - at long last.

Cleveland city officials joined their counterparts from the county and those from Atlanta Gas Light on the square in Cleveland to mark the opening of service that county commission chairman Travis Turner describes as another arrow in the quiver for the county in attracting industry.  

Turner and Cleveland Mayor Don Stanley both said they have been working on getting natural gas service here for quite a while, with Turner addeding, "it's here now and we can move forward."

AGL President Suzanne Sitherwood said the company is proud of the fact that it was able to get the lines in to serve the customers quickly  with little disruption. 

Following the ceremony,  AGL officials and other natural gas providers held a meeting at the Roy Ash Jr. Community Room to explain plans for future expansion into the county.

AGL officials said they would be extending the line up Georgia Highway 75 to where the new county jail is being built. The line currently just runs from Clermont up U.S. 129 to just north of the Cleveland square.