PROSPERITY — In a Prosperity public hearing, the town council and town itself showed that they will help residents.

One lady, Veronica Swittenburg, approached council about the buzzards looming over her house and the Sprint tower.

“I’m having lost of problems with buzzards,” said Swittenburg who said they are “camping out” near her place.

Swittenburg complained of the residue they leave behind which inconveniences chores and children playing outside.

Swittenburg says she has contacted Department of Health and Human Services (DHEC) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) but because of the private land they couldn’t do too much.

She asked for council to point her in a way to get help and recalled a former police officer who used a cap gun to scare away the buzzards.

Police Chief Administrator Benji Sease chimed in about the cap gun and said he would visit the next day, which was Wednesday, to figure out to help the resident.

Councilman Mike Hawkins said that Swittenburg had also spoken to him who asked if there was something they could do around the Sprint tower which is what they seemed to be attracted to.

Mayor Derek Underwood said, “We’ll do what we can to help.”

Christmas in Prosperity

Christmas is just around the corner in Prosperity and the town will have their annual Shopper’s Walk, Christmas tree lighting and Christmas parade.

Shopper’s Walk and the tree lighting will take place Dec. 1 in downtown Prosperity at 5:30 p.m. Businesses will be open, Santa will be listening to the nice kids and the Christmas season kicks off.

Then on Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. the parade will march down Main Street.

This year’s grand marshal will be former long-time council member and Prosperity resident Billy Dawkins.

Recreation news

The council voted on a tentative motion for rates for their recreation field for traveling teams to use but without the lights.

This means that teams who played or practiced would have to use the field during daylight; however, this was a tentative motion that could be changed. Rates would be $10 an hour and council would look to see how Newberry and Pomaria handled the situations with outside teams.

Newberry, Pomaria and Prosperity are the only areas with baseball fields for people to use.

In the past, Underwood said that they would shut down, but this would provide revenue for the town.

The council will continue to discuss how they will handle traveling teams who wish to use their fields and any team or group who wishes to use it may call Town Hall.

However, the restrooms by town hall and also by the field will begin to lock their restrooms because of too much vandalizing that has occurred.

This will not happen until after Thanksgiving and combinations and keys will be given to the appropriate people such as coaches, etc.

“We’re spending too much money and investing too much. Too many people are vandalizing and abusing the areas,” said Underwood.

The council also discussed the Wightman U.M.C. walking track but made no decisions about it.

Underwood simply stated that the church and the town are in discussion about the track but will continue their positive relationship.

The lease agreement between the church and the town was from 1991 and was outdated and the agreement will have to be reworked for any safety and liability reasons.

Trash pick-up

The council discussed the ordinance regarding special rates for bulk pick-up.

This is in regards to the fact that in the past the town would help load and/or haul off trash on the side of the road for a cost.

However, the town partnered with Advance Sanitation to assist with trash pick-up at no extra charge to residents.

In the past the price was $15 per load for the town to haul off or $25 per load if the town picked it up and hauled it off.

The town needs to examine current rates, establish possible new rates. This would effect those who were cleaning out, remodeling or even renovating their home as well as apartments who evicted tenants and put their stuff on the curb.

While this doesn’t happen frequently, it does happen from time to time.

Underwood said they will look at rates for the next meeting.

Smoke Free Newberry County

Underwood brought up an idea about a smoke free county that was addressed at the last governmental association meeting.

He stated that “other counties have gone smoke free” including neighboring town Chapin and their restaurants do not seem to be suffering.

Underwood said he has talked with the mayors in Newberry and Pomaria who seem to be on board as he does not want this to be just a Prosperity thing.

“Any place that has implemented this has not had a decreased in revenue,” stated Underwood.

Starting in January, Underwood hopes to see more of an initiative for serious action.