By John Howell Sr.

Como could move the offices of its municipal departments under one roof after aldermen last week approved Mayor Judy Sumner’s request to study the feasibility of moving them into the building on Main Street which formerly housed a clinic.

Moving into the municipally-owned building would allow the police, municipal/court clerk, mayor, and maintenance departments to be served by one central air conditioning system. Currently the offices are housed in three separate structures.

Utilization of the old clinic building would also free up parking space near Como’s Main Street restaurants, Sumner said.

At the July 1 meeting Sumner also reported other administrative changes including the hiring certified gas, sewer and water operators to comply with utility regulators.

Water operator Andre Ellis and sewer treatment plant operator Paul Holloway will work as contractors for the Town of Como, the mayor said. Gas operator Tommy Rayburn has been hired as a municipal employee.

The mayor’s announcement about securing personnel who hold the appropriate certifications in compliance with state regulators brought a round of applause from the audience, which filled the Como library building meeting room.

Mayor Sumner requested that aldermen approve her recommendation that David Evans be hired as Como’s engineer.

“I have personally interviewed three; the one that I decided on was David Evans,” Sumner said. Evans offered to work with no monthly fee. “He’ll get a percentage from the projects that he does,” she said.

Aldermen approved Sumner’s recommendation 3 to 0.

The mayor also presented a copy of a letter to District 1 Supervisor James Birge requesting help with grass cutting, work at the town’s sewer lagoon and at “the situation with Tri-County.”

In the June and May meetings, aldermen have discussed sewage flowing into an open ditch at Tri-County’s facility on Railroad Street. Sumner also said she had asked Birge to patch potholes in 13 locations on town streets.

Como allows its portion of the county’s road and bridge fund to flow back to the county and foregoes the revenue, she noted.

In other business, the mayor said she had contacted Tunica about surplus municipal equipment that it could donate to Como.

The aldermen’s final action before adjourning approved payment of bills totaling $53,359.41. Rhines had prepared payment recommendations prior to the meeting. His recommendations were adopted with little discussion.

The expenditures left a $15,000 cushion for payroll, he said.