By Rupert Howell
Como’s board of mayor and aldermen agreed to pay $26,000 to the City of Sardis for emergency dispatch services in arrears and set a firm date to assess penalties for late water bill payments during Tuesday night’s monthly meeting at the library.

Board members also heard an eloquent presentation from Ms. Dorothy Hill concerning loose dogs in her neighborhood on Church Street.

She told of unwanted dogs on her premises stating, “I feel locked up in my home.”
Hill explained she could not sit in her yard or porch for ticks caused by the loose dogs and asked, “How long,” was she going to have to put up with it?

“I couldn’t even barbecue on the Fourth of July,” she said asking again, “How long.”

Others at the meeting spoke up stating they were familiar with the particular pack of dogs noting that at least one or two were owned by neighbors and being fed regularly with Alderman John Walton stating, “They don’t have no reason to leave.”

The others were apparently left when someone moved away Mayor Everette Hill injected into the conversation.

He assured Ms. Hill that the board was aware of the problem and was working toward a solution.
“Someone moved away and left all those dogs according to one of the neighbors,” the Mayor reported and said it was “real expensive,” to provide a place to impound strays noting insurance, concrete, personnel and feed required.

Hill would not estimate exactly when the problem would be remedied but admitted he expected a solution prior to summer.

Aldermen also discussed asking Panola County for assistance with the stray dog problem noting that other communities probably had similar problems.

Board members also agreed to give notice of $50 delinquent fee change for water users in the city. If accounts are not paid in full by 3 p.m. on the 20th day of the month, the name will be added to the delinquent list,  water will be cut off and the resident will be charged a delinquent fee of $50.

Mayor Hill made sure all board members understood the procedure as apparently some customers had awaited until the town’s maintenance man began cutting off meters before going to pay their bills.

“If the account is still delinquent at 8:00 a.m. on the day of cut-off, a $50.00 delinquent fee will be added to the account even if city personnel has not disconnected your service,” the new procedure reads.

“In order to reconnect, you must pay your account in full plus pay the $50.00 delinquent fee,” the notice continues.

Service will be reconnected during normal working hours which may be the next business day after payment is made.

“Therefore, you must be prepared to go without service if you allow your service to be disconnected,” according to the notice.

Aldermen agreed for Attorney John Calvin Patterson to complete a negotiation with the City of Sardis in the amount of $26,000 that has been hanging over Como for several years.

Sardis Police Department previously handled emergency dispatch services for Como and during a period of turmoil and financial instability, got behind on payments for that service.

The agreement would have Como pay $2,000 down and$1,000 monthly for 24 months to satisfy the debt.