PROSPERITY — Kevin O’Donnell, president of Nova Energy Consultants Inc., presented Prosperity Town Council a brief update on the Duke Energy rates regarding coal ash at Tuesday’s meeting.

“You’ve tasked me with finding out what is going to be the town’s liability. The liability for the Town of Prosperity for 2015 is $25,283, 2016 comes to $$34,923 and 2017 is $36,367. The grand total from 2015 – 2017 is $96,573,” said O’Donnell.

O’Donnell said the 2017 number is still just an estimate. He said he will be back later in the spring to address the final cost for 2017.

“You’ll start seeing this in your wholesale power bill after the first of the year, so the bill that you receive the first week of February is where you will be seeing it,” said O’Donnell. ‘You’ll see some pretty sizable numbers in the first two years, but in 2020 those numbers should drop nicely.”

Other business:

• Councilman Chad Hawkins reported work is still being done regarding sidewalk contracts. From sanitation, he said the contract will expire Nov. 30. He said they have 90 days to decide whether to continue.

• Councilman Robert Martin reported the owners of Trés Amigos, a new restaurant in Prosperity, hope to open Aug. 21.

• Councilman Allen Gallman said football and soccer registration is still open.

• Council discussed one-way traffic in the Town Square. Council has looked at a proposal for possible one-way traffic.

“I think once you get a scope of work to make it one way then you can compare the pros and cons, but right now this is all speculation of what we’re going to do,” said Mayor Derek Underwood.

• Council briefly discussed the town-wide ordinance that prohibits smoking on business properties.

“Other town municipalities that did this and folks that said this was going to harm their business and it didn’t. As a customer, I can choose where I go and do business at, but as an employee I should have the right to work in an environment that is safe and where I won’t be exposed to second hand smoke,” said Underwood.

Underwood
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_Underwood.jpgUnderwood

By Kelly Duncan

kduncan@s24514.p831.sites.pressdns.com

Reach Kelly Duncan at 803-768-3123 ext. 1868 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.