code: @SuppressWarnings("unused")
  	private URL loadURLProperty(String propertyKey) {
  
  		String urlPropValue = prop.getProperty(propertyKey);
  
  		if (urlPropValue == null || urlPropValue.isEmpty()) {
  			return null;
  		} else {
  			try {
  				return new URL(urlPropValue.trim());
  			} catch (MalformedURLException e) {
  				LOGGER.error("'" + propertyKey + "' contains malformed url.", e);
  				return null;
  			}
  		}
  	}
docs: Loads a property of the type URL from the Properties object
  
  @param propertyKey
  the property name
  
  @return the value