PROSPERITY — Prosperity Town Council unanimously approved second reading of an ordinance Tuesday to buy property located at 305 N. Main St., the former location of Park Sterling bank.
“It is property that is currently owned by Park Sterling bank,” said Mayor Derek Underwood. “Since this is a contractual negotiation that is still taking place on the town side, we will wait until it is finalized to release details regarding the transaction.”
Underwood said they would release more information once the deal is completed.
Councilman Chad Hawkins said the town wants better accessibility for residents and also want to provide better accommodations for their staff and employees.
Councilman Robert Martin said Prosperity’s Town Hall building is in need of structural repair that cannot be done as long as municipal offices are in the building.
Underwood said the town will buy the bank property using money that would be used to make needed repairs to Town Hall. If Town Hall is solely a civic building, Underwood said there might be grant funding available so no taxpayer money would be used.
Underwood said the town was not necessarily spending money it should be spending elsewhere, but rather spending money for a win-win on potential grant funding for the structural integrity of Town Hall.
“We’re not abandoning this building by any means,” Hawkins said of Town Hall.
Underwood said the town of Prosperity had a great historical landmark in the Town Hall building and that the former Park Sterling bank would give the town essentially a town complex that would house administrative offices and give them a nice civic center.
While he had spoken to several residents who were excited about purchasing the property, Councilman Mike Hawkins said there were some who had concern, especially about the price of the building.
Underwood said he thought everyone would be pleased once the price was revealed.
“We have to consider not what’s best for the town in a few years, but what is best for the town when we’re gone and not behind these chambers,” Chad Hawkins said. “These are the things to consider when making these types of decisions.”
In other business, council approved second reading to sell property located on U.S. 76. The land is a parcel that the town has no use for anymore and by selling it, could open up the parcel for some development with neighboring parcels of land.
Prosperity Town Council will hold its next monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 at Prosperity Town Hall.