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Lost Pirate owner warns septic failure could imperil sale, council explores options
Summary
Keith Mueller, owner of the Lost Pirate Tiki Bar and Grill, told the Buffalo City Common Council he lacks space for a new drainfield and that county officials said a pumped holding tank would be his only local option; the council said parkland across 8th Street is a last-resort option and will seek solutions that keep infrastructure on the business property.
Keith Mueller, owner of the Lost Pirate Tiki Bar and Grill, told the Buffalo City Common Council on Aug. 12 that his restaurant’s septic system is failing and he needs guidance on replacement options. He said there is no room on the business lot for a conventional drainfield and that county staff had told him the only alternative available locally would be a larger holding tank that would need to be pumped every few weeks, a solution he said would create significant recurring costs and likely deter buyers if he sells the property.
Mayor Ben Holien said the council wants to help Mueller find a practical fix but that placing a system on City-owned parkland across 8th Street would be “at the end of that list” of remedies. Holien said the council prefers a solution that remains on Mueller’s property if feasible. Mueller told the council he intends to proceed with installing a new system even if a sale is pending because he believes a commercial property with a holding tank would be hard to sell.
The minutes record no formal motion or vote on the matter. Council members said they would investigate options, and staff indicated they would follow up with Mueller on possible pathways that do not use parkland. The minutes do not document any county representative present or a technical plan for drainfield relocation. There was no timeline given for follow-up or a decision.
