NIAGARA FALLS —
A $3,100 sewer bill has prompted village officials to crack down on code enforcement at a number of local businesses.
Village Trustee Victor E. Edyt said an increase of grease from local restaurants caused last month’s sewer pipe blockage and is an issue that must be addressed.
“Last year it cost us about $80,000 to replace the pumps which were basically destroyed by the grease,” Edyt said. “Again this month the pumps were plugged up, all full of grease, and it cost us another $3,100 to get that cleaned up. Let alone what damage it’s doing to the pumps.”
Edyt said the sewer department told him at the rate grease is making its way through the pipes, the newly replaced pumps will last for no more than five years.
In 2008, a local law was enacted requiring local businesses to install grease traps and several business still are not up to code.
“It was made a law a couple years ago and it wasn’t really enforced and now it’s gotten to a point where it’s too expensive not to enforce it,” Edyt said.
Village Engineer Richard SanGiacomo said there are fines involved with not being up to code. He said he will begin an inspection of local businesses after he meets with the village attorney to ensure his citations “have some teeth.”
“The bottom line is it could cost us a lot of money in the long run,” Edyt said.
In other meeting related business, the village has leased out office space to Village Attorney Paul A. Grenga at the rate of $500 a month. He is expected to take over the former Lewiston police office on May 1.
The board approved a motion to allow the Lewiston Kiwanis Club to collect money on August 14 at the intersection of Portage Road and Center Street. The collection is part of the group’s annual Block of Dollars campaign.
Village Trustee Terry Collesano updated the board on progress at the Piper Law Office. He said the chimney inside the building to the roof has been completed.
The village will hold its “May Cleanup” from May 3-7 and will collect metal, twigs, brush and bagged leaves and grass.
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