VALDOSTA – Lowndes County Commissioners voted Tuesday to grant an easement for the Sabal Trail pipeline to run through property in Lowndes County, but officials say the vote does not indicate an endorsement of the project.

“The commission has already expressed it is not in support,” said Paige Duke, Lowndes County Clerk. “The county has no say in whether the pipeline comes here. There were 65 parcels in Lowndes County that were going to be affected in regards to the right-of-way. The county approved the 60th parcel.”

Dukes said the vote to grant the easement came down to finances.

“If they county had held out, the Sabal Trail has the authority to exercise eminent domain, which would have caused the taxpayers to pay legal fees,” Dukes said.

The Sabal Trail natural gas pipeline is proposed to run from Alabama to Florida, cutting across south Georgia.