Fats, oils, grease rules stymie restaurateurs

The Joint Regional Sewer Authority agreed yesterday to review its enforcement of fats, oils and grease regulations as they apply to restaurants.  The JRSA recently assigned an employee to enforce the frequency for cleaning the traps beneath the sinks of delis, ice cream shops and the like – but having to clean them as often as once a week is seen by the restaurateurs as heavy-handed.  And they are concerned for their livelihoods. Last evening, led by Walhalla Mayor Tim Hall, they succeeded to persuade the JRSA board to conduct a review.  And it prompted Bryan Ramey, board chairman, to say, “We are going to try to figure this out.”  Chris Eleazer, JRSA executive director, advised the commissioners that there are important considerations to keep in mind such as the potential damage to sewer collections facilities that fats, oils and grease can cause, as well as a potential public health concern over the buildup of gases.