ELKHART — Elkhart officials have adopted a revamped ordinance governing discharge of fats, oils and grease at restaurants.
The ordinance, as originally proposed, was focus of sharp debate last year after restaurants clamored that the guidelines were too stringent and potentially too costly. City reps reworked it, presenting the updated version last February, and the Elkhart City Council formally adopted it on Monday, April 6.
Among other things, restaurants must register their locales with the city. New eateries have to install traps or interceptors to control grease discharges, though that can be waived, while existing restaurants have to install such devices only if sewer clogging or related problems occur repeatedly.
The aim is to prevent restaurant grease and oil discharge from clogging the city’s sewer system.
Also Monday, the council took the final steps to granting Welch Packaging a tax break for a planned expansion that would create 118 new jobs.
The body first took up the proposal on March 16 and, per the process to approve property tax abatements, formally signed off on the proposal Monday. Welch, based in Elkhart, sought a partial property tax abatement on a proposed $16.54 million expansion at its facility in east Elkhart.