By Rupert Howell
Como is the recipient of a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through Mississippi Development Authority to be used to upgrade that town’s lagoon used for waste water treatment, Mayor Everette Hill announced to his board of aldermen and a room full of citizens at Tuesday’s monthly meeting held in the meeting room of Como Library.
North Delta Planning Development District representative Lillian Morris was on hand for Hill’s announcement and also revealed that a $210,000 grant through the Mississippi Home Program had also been approved for building two new homes on Warren Street in the footprint of two “deplorable” homes there.

Morris estimated the sewer and lagoon project to be paid by the CBDBG money would be under way within a year when asked for a time frame.

The grant will pay for a portion of an estimated $2 million needed to bring waste water treatment into Mississippi Department of Environmental compliance.

Como is in the process of applying for additional funding from the United States Department of Agriculture for further improvements to upgrade the system.

A large portion of Tuesday’s meeting centered around stop signs and the removal thereof as Police Chief Earl Burdette had a “thank you” letter read aloud that commended him for taking down one stop sign in the area questioned.

Citizens voiced their concerns of where the signs needed to come down and where they need to go up, with Alderman Ruby Higgenbotham settling the issued with a motion for the police chief to have stop signs placed where appropriate.

A county-wide problem is also a problem in Como where street number signs of residences are not visible from the street.

“How can emergency workers see your house number up in the hedges,” Burdette asked sarcastically.

Burdette offered to place house number signs in yards of senior citizens during the discussion.
Board members also agreed to purchase AFLAC health insurance for all city employees. The board had previously agreed to purchase policies for volunteer firemen.

Mayor Hill also mentioned the city had received releases from a federal lien due to  unpaid withholding taxes as well as a release from the Mississippi Employment tax for the year 2009 quarters one through four.

The mayor also expressed enthusiasm for Saturday when Como will hold its first “Como Day,” that begins with a car show in the morning and moves to Back Street with a sound stage for music and entertainment including local talent The Como Mammas, and Shardae Thomas with the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band.

Asked what time the festivities would conclude, Hill joked, “Ain’t no time-this is Como.