The Huntsville City Council voted 3-2 Thursday night to form the North Alabama Public Energy District with Scottsboro and Athens to help acquire natural gas supply for the region.

City Council President John Meredith and District 1 City Councilwoman Michelle Watkins voted against the resolution over concerns of the city relinquishing control over decisions about Huntsville’s energy supply.

Watkins told fellow council members she hoped the decision would not come back to haunt the council. But District 2 City Councilman David Little felt it was important for Huntsville “to have a seat at the table.”

Huntsville Utilities CEO Wes Kelley will be one of three members of the initial board, along with Jim Green Jr. from the city of Scottsboro and Braxton Guinn from the city of Athens. The board of directors may include up to 15 members.

According to documents, the district would oversee a project “to secure an additional supply of natural gas for the members, such additional members as may be admitted to the authority, and surrounding areas in north Alabama served by members and non-members of the district.”

The area where the authority proposes to acquire or construct such projects shall consist of the following counties in Alabama: Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, Jackson, Marshall and Dekalb.