By Carson Lambert

clambert@civitasmedia.com

Councilman Chad Hawkins, left, is sworn in by Mayor Derek Underwood, right, assisted by Councilman Allen Gallman.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_C.-Hawkins.jpgCouncilman Chad Hawkins, left, is sworn in by Mayor Derek Underwood, right, assisted by Councilman Allen Gallman. Carson Lambert | The Newberry Observer

Councilman Robert Martin, left, is joined by his sons Michael, center left, and Robbie, center right, as he is sworn in by Mayor Derek Underwood.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_Martin.jpgCouncilman Robert Martin, left, is joined by his sons Michael, center left, and Robbie, center right, as he is sworn in by Mayor Derek Underwood. Carson Lambert | The Newberry Observer

PROSPERITY — Mayor Derek Underwood shared his thoughts on growing the town’s economy in 2016 at this month’s meeting of town council which also featured the swearing-in of two re-elected councilmen and a new police officer.

Councilmen Chad Hawkins and Robert Martin retained their seats in November’s election and will serve for an additional two years.

Kenneth Hite, a retired City of Columbia police officer, is the newest addition to Prosperity’s law enforcement team.

“Chief can attest that we support our police department here and we wish nothing but the best and we’re very proud and honored that you are here to serve,” Underwood said of Hite.

Mayor Underwood’s goals for what he hopes to accomplish this year centered around growing the town’s economy.

“What do we need to do now to bring Prosperity into 2016 and what do we need to do to make our town prosperous?” were his questions posed to the council.

His first concern was steps which can be taken to “spruce up” downtown.

“Simple things like doing some brick and mortar on some of the curbs that are crumbling,” he said. “One thing is to get the business association to assist. Maybe they see some things that they want to do.”

Another goal of Underwood’s is to look into the feasibility of commissioning a study to assess Prosperity’s economic landscape in an effort to revitalize downtown.

“What does the town need? What do people coming through town need? How many people we pull from Lexington and Columbia? How many people come here from Newberry? How many is just people within a five-mile radius who will patronize these businesses?” Underwood said.

In an effort to better accommodate potential businesses, Underwood would like an inventory to be taken of Prosperity’s available store fronts to then be categorized by type such as restaurant, office space, etc.

“This is good way for us to have something very short and precise that we can hand to somebody to let them know this is what Prosperity has to offer,” he said.

To stimulate existing businesses the mayor said the town would like do everything which they are legally allowed to boost activity.

“One thing that we can do is reach out to the business association and just ask, ‘What does the town need to do to help you make you a success,’” he said. “Without our merchants, without our businesses the town dries up.”

As a way to advertise itself the town may look into enlisting the services of Columbia television personality Tyler Ryan.

“He does a lot of videos at a very nominal cost for certain municipalities,” Underwood said. “It would showcase what the town has to offer.”

The production of such a video would follow the aforementioned economic survey and “sprucing up” of downtown.

“This is a really good recruiting technique for, not only businesses, but also people in the area that might want to come here to shop and eat and possibly even relocate their family here,” Underwood said.

The submissions which will reach the ballot for the Capital Projects Sales Tax referendum are being narrowed and Prosperity is hopeful they will receive funding to construct a recreation complex which Mayor Underwood said would be “the best in the county.”

“We talked about the City of Newberry, we talked about the county doing it, why can’t Prosperity do it?” he said.

Along with this project would be the institution of Prosperity’s own recreation department which would be managed directly through the town’s administration and council.

“We’re going to be going up there in March and submitting those plans and going before the committee to argue that we need to be placed on the list,” Underwood said.

Also contained within the proceedings was the election of the Prosperity’s Mayor Pro Tem.

“The Mayor Pro Tem is the individual who is elected by council to serve in the mayor’s absence,” Underwood said.

A motion to nominate Councilman Chad Hawkins was made and seconded by Councilmen Gallman and Martin, respectively, followed by a unanimous vote.

Reach Carson Lambert at 803-276-0625, ext. 1868, or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.