By Rupert Howell
A Como resident could not get much sympathy from that town’s board nor the police chief concerning smoke being emitted from a neighboring business establishment.
The resident did not attend last Tuesday’s monthly meeting, but William Lewers who operates a game room near Main Street close to a residence was present and admitted to making the smoke every Thursday night when he barbecues for his customers.
Police Chief Earl Burdette said he had worked on the complaint for three days first searching Como law to find ordinances that might address barbecue smoke.
At one point Burdette talked with the county’s Emergency Management Coordinator, the Department of Environmental Quality and the Mississippi Department of Health.
“I tried to make sure it wasn’t a health issue,” Burdette stated.
During one call to an agency, Burdette said he was told, ‘If you’re in the South (and don’t like barbecue smoke) you better pack up and come north.”
Burdette also said the disgruntled resident suggested Lewers put up a 10’ smokestack to help dissipate the smoke.
“He (Lewers) is not breaking any laws,” Mayor Everette Hill said.
“Sometimes you just got to live and let live,” Burdette stated and later added, “If he’s guilty, I’m guilty, too.”