By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
It sounds sort of hazy, but Salisbury’s FOG program could have an impact on up to 350 restaurants and other food service businesses in the near future.
FOG stands for the city’s Fats, Oils and Grease ordinance.
Salisbury-Rowan Utilities is in the final stages of developing the ordinance and guidelines after looking at programs in other cities and soliciting input from businesses which will be affected.
Restaurants, depending on their sizes, will have a compliance time of two years to install proper grease interceptors or one year for grease traps, if they aren’t already meeting the proposed regulations.
Salisbury City Council will hold a public hearing on the FOG ordinance at its Feb. 3 meeting.
Improperly managed fats, oils and grease can block sewer pipes and treatment systems.
City officials say blockages harm public health, the environment and lead to increased operating costs for the utility.
In 2007, about 500 sewer overflows in the state were attributed to blockages caused by fats, oils and grease.
The Environmental Protection Agency and N.C. Division of Water Quality have new permit requirements for cities which mean Salisbury must have a FOG prevention enforcement program and an education program.
Salisbury’s FOG education program will feature a character named “Greasy” in the “No Grease Blockin’!” show.
All food service establishments will be required to operate and maintain a properly sized grease trap or interceptor. Plumbers, developers, grease waste haulers and engineers all will be affected by the changes.
For more information on the FOG ordinance, people can contact Aaron Otten, the FOG program coordinator, at 704-216-2729.
In other business last week, the council:
– Awarded a $317,316 contract to Foothills Water 7 Sewer Inc. for installation of water-sewer services in the Camp Road area annexed July 1, 2007.
Salisbury-Rowan Utilities had 10 bids for the project, and the difference between Foothills and the second lowest bidder, Concord Builders Inc., was only $52.
– Awarded a $301,747 contract to RAM Development of Mooresville Inc. for the installation of water-sewer services in the old Mocksville Road area annexed July 1, 2007. RAM Development and the second lowest bidder, BRS Inc. were separated by less than $2,200.
– Held a second public hearing on the city’s pending application for a $5 million Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant, which provides money to local governments for acquiring and redeveloping foreclosed properties.
Jack Thomson, director of Historic Salisbury Foundation, told the council the foundation would like to partner with the city and share its expertise in rehabilitating historic properties, should Salisbury win a grant.
Councilman Bill Burgin said the foundation’s help, along with the Salisbury Community Development Corp., may be important because the city might need “extra hands.”
City Manager David Treme said about eight people on his staff are working to put Salisbury’s application together.