PROSPERITY — The Town of Prosperity is still working on getting a couple of signs along Interstate 26 to direct traffic through Prosperity instead of Chapin to help the town prosper.

At Tuesday’s town council meeting, Mayor Derek Underwood said they are going to get letters to Sen. Ronnie Cromer and District 40 Rep. Walt McLeod, which is a requirement. Underwood said that then the representatives will present the letters.

Underwood said this will help draw people to Prosperity and help the businesses as people will stop and shop in Newberry County as opposed to outside the county. They also want to draw in people headed to Lake Murray and hope to get people to segue through Prosperity bypassing Chapin.

The council members also took another look at the Chapter 92 ordinance, which is the animal and fowl ordinance revision.

Underwood said they are going to change the ordinance to allow for exceptions with acreage size and contingency of land use. The council will be more specific in the ordinance to be fair to all.

They hope to have a draft ordinance ready for first reading at the meeting in April.

The town has also reapplied for a Community Development Block Grant for the Henry Village along Langford Street.

The town applied for this grant in 2011 but didn’t receive it since another town in the county had a greater need.

The grant is a $183,000 and the town will have to match 10 percent through either monetary contributions or work.

In depot news, plans to add a wrap-around deck, handicapped accessibility and inside lighting will begin with hopes that it will be finished in time for the Prosperity Hoppin’ Arts and Antiques Festival on May 4.

After it’s completed, the depot also will be able to be available for those who want to use it as a meeting space, Underwood said.

Upcoming dates

The council also set dates to work on the upcoming 2014 fiscal year budget. They will meet at 6 p.m. April 30 in the town hall training room and a tentative date of May 14 at 6 p.m. has been set as needed.

The town will also host the Newberry County Governmental Association this year at 6:30 p.m. April 29.

Downtown sidewalks

In downtown sidewalk news, the sidewalk project along South Main, Brown and School drive has been pushed back again to June. However, the other sidewalk project in downtown is going to move forward in the engineering process but they must still wait on permits and right of way issues.

The crosswalk in downtown must stay for safety reasons. A meeting with Department of Transportation officials was held Monday concerning the crosswalk and the downtown sidewalks.

Other news

In other news council held an executive session about the electrical department. Underwood said a committee consisting of Ed West, Mike Hawkins and himself has been formed. It will meet with Newberry Electric Cooperative and look at the electrical system in town.

The next town council meeting is set for 7 p.m. April 16 at town hall.