Largo commission approves grant to help local restaurants upgrade grease interceptors

LARGO, Fla. — The Largo City Commission on Nov. 18 unanimously approved Resolution 24-49 to create a grease interceptor grant program aimed at reducing fats, oils and grease (FOG) in the city’s wastewater system while helping independently owned food-service businesses pay for required equipment.

Kevin Miller, the city’s environmental manager, told the commission the program provides "financial assistance to help restaurants and similar establishments install, upgrade, or repair grease interceptors." Miller said it is structured as a 50% matching reimbursement, capped at $5,000 per business, and limited to four grants per fiscal year. He said eligible projects include "the installation, upgrade, or repair of grease interceptors to comply with Chapter 23 of the City of Largo Code of Ordinances." Applicants are required to pay upfront, submit receipts, permits and inspection approvals for reimbursement, and complete approved work within one year (extensions available). Miller said reimbursements will be processed within 30 days of a completed application.

Commissioners asked how the program was developed and what its reach would be. Shelby Beauch, the city’s utilities director, said the initiative follows an earlier "stormwater angel fund" and is intended to provide a complementary resource for wastewater issues. "We wanted to create one for wastewater as well to have a similar impact," Beauch said. Miller added staff already identified three eligible restaurants they will contact if the program is approved, leaving "one additional candidate available for the remainder of the year." He said the city will post program materials on its website and notify new businesses as they come online.

On cost, Miller said, based on vendor quotes, interceptors and installation typically "range from $20,000 up to $50,000," though other speakers suggested lower entry costs are occasionally reported; commissioners emphasized those figures are approximate. Commissioner Lauser raised a concern that the draft program, limited to four awards and a total municipal commitment of $20,000 per fiscal year, might not fully leverage the funding if some projects require less than the full award amount. Miller said staff proposed a conservative initial allocation and "we are open to reassessing to see how this year goes. Next year could be higher."

Miller also told the commission that the city has seen an improvement in grease-related sewer problems since city-wide upgrades a decade ago; "this year, we've had no sanitary sewer overflows that I can recall due to grease blockages," he said, while noting other types of overflows related to construction or reclaimed-water issues still occur.

The commission voted 7-0 in favor of Resolution 24-49. Under the resolution, the Environmental Services Department is authorized to implement administrative procedures to administer the program; staff will contact identified candidates, publish the application, and process reimbursements once work and documentation are complete.

Votes at a glance - Approval of meeting agenda: 6-0 (voice vote). - Approval of minutes (Nov. 4, 2025): 6-0 (voice vote). - Consent docket (appointments, contracts, equipment purchases, and grant applications including a Southwest Florida Water Management District cooperative funding application for Church Creek Phase 2, up to $2.5 million): 6-0 (voice vote). - Resolution 24-49 (Grease Interceptor Grant Program): 7-0 (voice vote).

What’s next: Staff will finalize administrative procedures for the grant program, contact the three identified eligible businesses, post application materials on the city website and process reimbursements per the program rules. The commission adjourned after routine announcements.