Civil Municipal Magazine Aug 2023

55 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8 AUSTELL , GEORGIA accomplish here in the city,” Weaver portrays. Currently, Austell is home to several independent eateries, including the much- loved South Cobb Diner, Paige’s Bakery and Bistro, Dillon’s Bistro, Cenacle Coffee Shop, and Dough in the Box, whose donuts are ranked the best in Atlanta. Endeavors like these are a source of employment in the city, while also contributing to its unique character. On the commercial side, Austell has welcomed Pratt Industries, which has brought 125 jobs to the community. “Part of our goal was to bring in high-wage jobs to the city so people can live here and work here,” recounts Weaver. He adds that the economic development focus has been on maximizing the existing land, which can be challenging in a city that encompasses only 5 and a half square miles. The housing development is also on the rise, with Weaver reporting that Austell has 325 homes in the pipeline. “You can’t build it fast enough,” he acknowledges. Austell Natural Gas System a.k.a. Austell Gas System, established in 1954, is a natural gas distribution utility. A component of the City of Austell, Georgia, Austell Gas System is governed and administered by the Austell Gas Board of Director’s. The system serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers for Austell, Mableton, Lithia Springs, Powder Springs as well as other portions of Cobb and Douglas counties. Currently, more than 58,000 customers rely on Austell Gas System for their heating and gas needs and employs approximately 100 full-time employees. The company strives for excellence while delivering the company core values of safety, service, and price. • Safety – above all else, we are committed to delivering our products and services in a manner that ensures safety for our employees, customers, and neighbors. • Service – employees strive to deliver superior customer service that exceeds the expectations of our customers and ensures reliability. • Price – our products and services are priced fairly and competitively. Natural gas is clean, convenient, and efficient, which makes it the popular energy choice. Like all forms of energy, however, it must be handled properly. Austell Gas works diligently to operate the system safely and prevent incidents through a variety of measures. The company takes pride delivering exceptional customer service and involvement in local communities, businesses, and schools throughout the system and we look forward to servicing your natural gas needs. For more information, please visit our website www.austellgas.com