Rates

For water service, a monthly demand charge shall be assessed to all customers based on the size of the meter of each customer in accordance with the following schedule:

In addition to each of the monthly charges, each customer shall be charged for water used at a rate of $4.11 per 1,000 gallons of water.

Each customer who receives sewer service shall pay a monthly sewer demand charge of $29.39 plus $3.93 per 1,000 gallons of water consumed.

If an attempt is made to pay a utility bill by check and the check is not honored by the band drawn upon, a charge of $50 shall be added to the customer's account.

If a consumer's bill for utility service is not paid by the due date, the city shall have the right to disconnect and discontinue all utility services furnished by the city to the consumer.

Credit/debit cards may be used to pay bills online. Payments made at the Utilities Office must be made by cash, check or money order.

Establishing Water Service

Customers looking to establish water service should call the Planning & Building Department at (228) 938-6620 to see if the property needs to be inspected BEFORE coming to the Utilities Office. After the property has passed inspection, customers should come to the Utilities Office to fill out a contract and pay a deposit. Deposits should be paid by cash, check, or money order only.

Documentation to bring with you:

• Lease or Purchase documentation
• A legal ID (must be valid)

Water Meter Deposits

Trip charges

There will be a trip charge incurred for each service call. The charge will apply to each trip made by a utility employee. The following is a partial list of actions that will result in this charge being incurred:

• Lock off service for nonpayment
• Turn off water for customer repair
• Reread meter (waived if billed reading was incorrect)
• Sewer backup (waived if backup is due to city system)
• Turn on water
• Locate water line

Trip charge during normal work hours inside city limits: $50

Trip charge during normal work hours outside of city limits: $75

Trip charge during nights, weekends, holidays or on overtime: $100

Rereads of meters

If a customer requests rereading of either a gas or water meter, or both, it will only be done during normal hours. A trip charge will be incurred if the original read is found to be correct. (Code 1967, § 29-30; Ord. No. 6-2013, § 1, 6-18-2013; Ord. No. 23-2018, § 1, 10-2-2018; Ord. No. 12-2019, § 1, 10-1-2019)

Meter tampering

It shall be unlawful for any person other than a duly authorized employee of the city to alter, change, deface, remove, interfere with, open or in any other way molest any meter in the city and used to supply any utility service to any customer. There shall be a charge incurred for injuring or tampering with a meter, meter lock and/or meter valve of up to $1,000.00 (Code 1967, § 29-22; Ord. No. 18-2018, § 1, 10-2-2018)