New California resident Billy Butler has recently established a new business in town several months after moving to the area.
Butler's business, B&B Drain & Sewer Cleaning, will offer hydro jetting, camera inspection and sewer auger work at a more affordable rate.
Born and raised in California state, Butler said he made the decision to move so he could find a more stable and friendly area to live. After spending some time in Iowa, he eventually moved back to his home state, only to make one last effort to leave again during 2020.
This led him to the city of California here in Missouri, where he made fast friends with residents who encouraged him to start his own business. Butler moved to Missouri last April and had founded B&B Drain & Sewer Cleaning by September.
Considering the support he received from his new friends and neighbors, Butler said he was very pleased with and surprised by the community's hospitality.
"I like (the area)," Butler said. "It's a small town and a little bit slower, so people are more respectful. That doesn't happen over (where I came from). It's just different and totally opposite. I also just feel like there's a better opportunity for me out here, as well."
Butler said his work often includes cleaning drains and cutting roots caught in the pipes of homes. This process is done through hydro jetting, which cleans the pipes along with clearing any obstruction.
He said his cameras contribute to fixing the issue by analyzing where the problem is in the pipes, and the auger assists in getting conditions to flow again. Butler said there are some businesses that do not have the equipment that he has locally. With that in mind, he said his tools allow him to fix problems more permanently than other businesses might be able to.
"(Workers from larger businesses) just can't do the full process," Butler said. "They get everybody happy for a short time and then the problem comes back. I feel like I can offer a little bit better service because I won't leave until it's done and like I said, I'm more affordable. I'm cheaper than some of the big names, and all folks need to do is just walk down the road now."
Butler said he is happy to be a part of the community and to be able to offer services at any day or time. Butler said ultimately, that is what his business is there to do as he tries to add to the community and offer the services that he can.
"I just want to build some kind of relationship with everybody around here," Butler said. "Since I'm not from that kind of (close community), that's what I would like. Not just a job."