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Taylor council receives first reading of FOG (fats, oils, grease) ordinance after staff shows sewer damage photos
Summary
City staff described recurring sewer blockages caused by restaurant grease and presented a first-reading ordinance to require grease traps and give enforcement powers; council members raised concerns about costs for existing small businesses and implementation timing.
City staff presented a proposed ordinance to add fats, oils and grease (FOG) control to Taylor’s code of ordinances, saying grease discharged from restaurants has caused recurring sewer blockages and costly repairs.
"This is an ordinance, in my opinion, should've been in place 15 years ago," a city DPW representative said during the presentation and showed photos of severely clogged sewer lines. Staff said the ordinance would provide the code-based authority to trace sources and enforce compliance and would require grease traps meeting city standards for new restaurants; existing businesses would be given time to comply but could face substantial costs.
Council members asked how the city would enforce the rule and what the cost impact would be for existing businesses. One council member noted owner pushback and said the estimated retrofit cost could range from about $25,000 to $30,000 for some properties; staff said some installations could be cheaper depending on size. The item was received for first reading and will return for further discussion before any final passage.
Council members asked staff to provide implementation details — a compliance timeline, an estimate of businesses already equipped with traps and potential cost‑share or assistance options — for the next agenda cycle.
