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Elkhart restaurant found in grease-violation after staff sampling; owner says traps were cleaned
Summary
The board found El Guadalajara (301 West Lusher Ave) in violation of the city’s fats, oils and grease limits after an April sample measured roughly 830 mg/L (local limit 200 mg/L) and assessed a $500 penalty; the restaurant representative said grease traps had been cleaned and staff said a follow-up sample still showed exceedances.
The Elkhart Board of Public Works voted July 7 to find El Guadalajara in violation of the city’s fats, oils and grease (FOG) limits and to assess a $500 penalty under the enforcement response plan.
Steve Brown, Public Works and Utilities, told the board that a pretreatment sample taken in April measured about 830 milligrams per liter at the business’s control manhole, compared with the local limit of 200 mg/L — an exceedance greater than 20 percent. Brown said the board previously granted the restaurant a variance in November 2025 in lieu of installing an outside interceptor and that the variance carried commitments that the restaurant has not met, including daily cleaning and on-site records.
A representative who identified himself as Jesus addressed the board through an interpreter and said the outside grease trap had been cleaned (a receipt dated June 4 was shown) and that kitchen staff clean the inside grease control device daily. "We cleaned the grease trap outside. I don't know how this happened, but it was cleaned yesterday," the representative said.
Brown told the board staff returned to resample the line after the cleaning and again found an exceedance; he said the owners were temporarily out of the country and that the department will meet with them — using bilingual staff — to explain requirements and provide training. "We'll continue to go back out until they prove that they're in compliance," Brown said.
The board approved the $500 penalty by voice vote. Brown said staff will present any future violations and continue enforcement and outreach efforts to ensure the restaurant meets its variance commitments.
