Como VFD is running calls

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  • The City of Como sign
    The City of Como sign
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All payments, bills to be approved by city

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City Government

COMO — The City of Como now has an operational volunteer fire department, according to a report given during the city council’s regular Oct. 8 meeting.

After a call to order at 5:30 p.m., an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, the council unanimously approved the minutes of the regular Sept. 10 session.

The council then unanimously approved the payment of bills from Oct. 2 up to Oct. 19 totaling $14,409.71. A bank statement published by the city showed a current balance of $264,015.31 in all accounts.

Mayor Darla Henry then discussed the upcoming event Trunk or Treat, which will occur on Oct. 31 throughout the city, starting at 5 p.m. Citizens are encouraged to park on Mills Street and distribute candy, Henry said. Bounce houses will be available for kids to play, Henry stated. Fire trucks will block off the area from the baseball field to the fire station to city hall, making the experience safe for pedestrians, according to city secretary Mary Doss.

“I think our children need to have a place to come,” Henry said.

Henry also noted that the fire department had new windows installed, although one had been broken during installation. Henry stated the individual who broke the window would replace it at his personal cost.

Henry stated the logo contest for the public safety department was ongoing through December and had so far received one entry.

NextLink would install a tower “in the next little while,” Henry said, and notified residents to be aware of the tower installation. The company will provide a monthly payment to the city as well as a free service to city hall, Henry said.

Director of Water Operations Craig Vaughn delivered the maintenance report.

“Everything is business as usual,” Vaughn said. “Just minor things that need to be repaired, and we take one step at a time to get them done.”

Activities for September included bacteriological testing, fixing water leaks, spraying weed killer and changing the battery on a backhoe.

“Como is looking really sharp,” Henry commented. “Darris [Cross] has been doing a lot of shredding up and down the streets.”

Director of Public Safety Andy Lowen contributed the public safety report, noted in the meeting minutes as the code enforcement report. Activities for September included ticketing for tall grass, patrolling, assisting in public works and watching city hall while a member of city hall was on vacation.

During Lowen’s report about tall grass, the citizen audience participated in a discussion about compliance with mowing and tree trimming at private properties.

Matt Green gave an update on the fire service. Despite “having a visitor who was not too happy” Green reported that as of Oct. 7, Como VFD was “back running calls” and that Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom signed off on the operations of the VFD.

According to Newsom, the VFD would receive back-pay from the previous two months the station had not been operational. The VFD will also receive the normal October payment, Newsom said.

“Miller Grove fire department has really stepped up to help us as far as equipment,” Green said. “They said if it’s here, come get it. … We can possibly get the engine in service for minimal money.”

Green said the VFD was “on the right track” to get equipment in service. Green stated he wanted permission from the city to order t-shirts for a price of $10.50 each in Como-Pickton school colors on black.

Henry told the citizen audience that currently, all funds for the VFD go through the city. Henry said two signatures will be required on every check, and as with other city documents, VFD documents will be presented to citizens at each city council meeting.

“You’ll have the visibility of ‘here’s what’s in here today, and here’s the justification of what we spent the money on,’” Henry said. “There will be visibility to anybody on how much is there and what we’ve spent it on.”

“Nobody can make any purchases without filling out a requisition order, and it has to be presented to the city council in advance before it can be purchased,” Doss stated.

Henry told the citizen audience that all possessions at the VFD such as tables, chairs and flags had not been taken. Lowen stated the city would like to remodel the VFD and open it back up to the community.

“There will be nothing hidden. There will be no secrets,” Green said.

After discussion about the fire service, Council adjourned to executive session to discuss bids for a sewer plant.