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Warsaw City Council approved a slightly watered-down ordinance Monday aimed at protecting the city’s wastewater pipes from grease produced by restaurants and coffee shops.
Viewed by many as less stringent than ones used in other cities, the ordinance was approved by a 5-2 vote with two council members saying they were looking out for the interests of smaller businesses.
The city already had an existing ordinance, but this one outlined the expectations more clearly, requiring any business that creates grease to either use a grease trap or a more expensive interceptor.
Officials believe there are still a handful of businesses that don’t use the devices. In some cases, businesses had the equipment, but didn’t realize it.
Use of such devices is already required for new restaurants.
Council agreed to loosen wording in the ordinance that governs maintenance of interceptors, which are normally cleaned by a professional company every 90 days. A small change in the ordinance now gives city more leeway if the restaurants are not producing a lot of grease.
Councilman Ron Shoemaker said the amendment was a move in the right direction, but still opposed it. He was joined by Cindy Dobbins in voting against it.
He said he understands the desire to protect city pipes, but said he worries about “government creep.”
“Anytime government gets bigger, it bothers me,” Shoemaker said.
Dobbins, the principal owner of Buffalo Street Emporium on Buffalo Street, which offers coffee, candies, gift items and some office supplies, said she was contacted by about four businesses that expressed concern.
“I am sympathetic to the cost,” she said. Those who contacted her, she said, are “small, independent” operations.
Others, though, saw the ordinance as a good thing.
Councilman Mike Klondaris said it’s imperative on the city’s part to protect the wastewater infrastructure and make sure there are not any “bad actors out there.”
“It’s the right thing to do. It’s the responsible thing to do,” Klondaris said.
Adhering to the regulatory measures, he said, is part of the “the cost of doing business.”
Debate on the issue spanned three meetings and businesses with concerns were urged to speak out or attend the meetings. No opposition was voiced by businesses Monday or at an earlier meeting this month.
Councilman Jack Wilhite said public input on issues like this are a factor in his decision. The lack of opposition in this case, he said, indicates “It must not be that bad.”
In other matters, council:
• Approved adoption of a friendly annexation involving about 63 acres for a subdivision along Old 30 East known as Shadow Lakes Estates. The assessed value for the city as a result of the annexation is expected to rise by about 1.6 percent.
The change will be finalized in a few weeks after legal advertising is published.
• Approved $500,000 from the Northern TIF fund that had already been set aside last year for the Airport Industrial Park sanitary sewer system and engineering for the CR 300N project.
• Approved $200,000 that had already been targeted for use in the city’s tech park improvements.
