By John Howell

The Town of Como hired Alice Tina Houston as municipal clerk. 

Como’s mayor and aldermen during a special meeting called Thursday evening selected Houston from among eight applicants who came to be interviewed.

Mayor Everette Hill and all five aldermen were present for the 6 p.m. meeting as were enough Como citizens to fill the meeting room in the Pointer Memorial Library. 

“I’m just trusting that they mayor and board will hire the best qualified candidate,” one person commented from the audience.

“My main concern is the city of Como; it has always been the city of Como,” Alderwoman Ruby Higgenbottom said.

Several audience members urged town officials to conduct a thorough background check of the applicant selected.

Houston will follow former town clerk Kara Killebrew who was arrested in Southaven April 21 and charged with embezzling town funds.

The mayor and aldermen soon voted to close the meeting to consider whether to use an executive session for applicant interviews.

Executive sessions exclude the public and are allowed under Mississippi law when personnel matters involving individual employees or prospective employees are discussed.

The meeting lasted until about 8:30 p.m. Mayor Hill said.