Callaway City Hall Details Utility Billing Procedures and Rates

Callaway residents and new arrivals need to understand the city's utility billing procedures, payment options, and rate schedules. City Hall, located at 6601 E. Hwy 22, handles all utility account services, operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To open a new utility account, individuals must visit City Hall in person. They need to present a valid photo ID, which can be military, state-issued, or a passport. Additionally, a copy of a signed lease agreement, proof of purchase, or a realtor's contract with the homeowner is required. Deposits for new accounts are $250.00 for a house, $100.00 for irrigation, and $250.00 for sewer-only services. A non-refundable account charge of $40.00 applies to all new accounts. Payments for deposits and charges can be made with cash, check, money order, or credit/debit cards.

Same-day utility connections are available, though not guaranteed, for requests made between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. If a technician finds water running when turning on a meter, they will turn it off, leaving it unlocked for the resident to activate. A $10.00 reconnection charge applies if a second service call is needed to turn on the meter, payable before the technician is dispatched.

Closing an account requires the account holder to notify Utility Billing directly. Service interruption due to nonpayment does not automatically close an account; the holder remains responsible for base rates and usage until official closure. Payments can be made in person at City Hall, by mail, via the drop box behind City Hall, or online through the City’s website. The City accepts cash, check, money order, or credit/debit cards for payments.

Important dates for payments include the 15th of each month, when payments must be received by 5:00 p.m. to avoid a 15% late penalty. By the 25th of the month, payments must be received by 5:00 p.m. to prevent a $50 delinquency charge and service interruption. If these dates fall on a weekend or holiday, the deadline extends to 5:00 p.m. on the next business day. Payments placed in the drop box after 5 p.m. post the following business day, and cash is not accepted in the drop box. The City of Callaway emphasizes that it is not responsible for postal service delays, and failure to receive a bill does not excuse penalties.

To reconnect services after interruption, the total account balance, including all fees and penalties, must be paid in full at City Hall between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Reconnection typically occurs the next day. An additional $50.00 delinquency fee applies to accounts that fail to pay by the disconnect date, even if a physical disconnect has not yet occurred.

Current base rates for city residents include $11.37 for water, $30.69 for sewer, $13.00 for solid waste, and $1.00 for stormwater. In addition, water usage is billed at $5.32 per thousand gallons, and sewer usage at $6.13 per thousand gallons. A 10% city water tax applies to water charges. Residents outside city limits face a 25% upcharge, with base rates of $14.21 for water and $38.36 for sewer, and usage rates of $6.65 per thousand gallons for water and $7.66 per thousand gallons for sewer. Sewer usage is calculated based on water usage.

Returned checks incur a service fee: $25.00 for amounts less than $50.00, $30.00 for $50.00 to $300.00, and $40.00 for $300.00 or more. Payment for returned checks must be made with cash, money order, or other certified funds, and an additional deposit may be required. For a returned check, a door knocker will be sent, providing two business days to pay the check amount and all associated fees. Failure to respond will result in service cut-off, requiring payment of reconnection charges and all other fees before services resume.