§ 53.99 PENALTY.
   (A)   Any user who does not install grease handling equipment or does not have the equipment inspected and approved by the Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator shall be in violation of this chapter. The responsibility for enforcement of these regulations shall be vested in the Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator, and he or she is authorized to issue notices of violations, compliance schedules, impose fines and penalties as provided elsewhere in this chapter for violations of these regulations.
   (B)   It shall be a violation of this chapter for any user to allow fats, oils or greases to enter the city wastewater collection or treatment system, in excess of the limits outlined in § 53.03(B), because of grease interceptors or other grease handling facilities being inadequately serviced or maintained.
   (C)   Grease interceptors shall be inspected at the city’s discretion. Users shall allow the Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator ready access at all reasonable times to all parts of the premises for the purpose of inspection, sampling and records examination. The city shall have the right to set up on the user’s property such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling, inspection and compliance monitoring operations. Denial of the city’s access to the user’s property shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.
   (D)   Users receiving unsatisfactory evaluations during inspections shall be sampled at the grease interceptor discharge by the Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator, and said sample shall be analyzed by a certified laboratory for oil and grease. Users shall be charged a fee to cover the cost of sample analysis. Any user found to be in violation shall be notified in writing of any noncompliance and will be required to provide a schedule whereby corrections will be accomplished. In addition, a re-sample fee may be charged to the user for each additional sample collected and analyzed until the user has re-established compliance with this chapter.
   (E)   Users whose operations cause or allow excessive grease to discharge or accumulate in the city wastewater collection and treatment system may be liable to the city for costs related to service calls for sewer line blockages, line cleaning, line and pump repairs and the like, including all labor, materials and equipment. Failure to pay all service related charges may also be grounds for sewer service discontinuance.
   (F)   Violations of this chapter will be assessed according to the following fine schedule. Users have the right to appeal fines by contacting the City Utility Director.
      (1)   Minor violation.
         (a)   First offense.
            1.   Inspection hindrance (equipment related): Notice of noncompliance;
            2.   Failure to maintain on-site records: Notice of noncompliance; and
            3.   Failure to pump grease and maintain records: Notice of noncompliance.
         (b)   Second offense.
            1.   Inspection hindrance (equipment related): $50 and notice of violation;
            2.   Failure to maintain on-site records: $50 and notice of violation; and
            3.   Failure to pump grease and maintain records: $150 and notice of violation.
         (c)   Third offense.
            1.   Inspection hindrance (equipment related): $200 and notice of violation;
            2.   Failure to maintain on-site records: $200 and notice of violation; and
            3.   Failure to pump grease and maintain records: $500 and notice of violation.
         (d)   Fourth offense.
            1.   Inspection hindrance (equipment related): Sewer service discontinued;
            2.   Failure to maintain on-site records: Sewer service discontinued; and
            3.   Failure to pump grease and maintain records: Sewer service discontinued.
      (2)   Intermediate violation (failure to maintain necessary equipment).
         (a)   First offense: $100 and notice of violation;
         (b)   Second offense: $200 and notice of violation;
         (c)   Third offense: $500 and notice of violation; and
         (d)   Fourth offense: Sewer service discontinued.
      (3)   Major violation.
         (a)   First offense.
            1.   Source of sewer blockage: $500 and notice of violation;
            2.   Source of sanitary sewer overflow: $500 and notice of violation; and
            3.   Falsification of records: $500 and notice of violation.
         (b)   Second offense.
            1.   Source of sewer blockage: $1,000 and notice of violation;
            2.   Source of sanitary sewer overflow: $1,000 and notice of violation; and
            3.   Falsification of records: $1,000 and notice of violation.
         (c)   Third offense.
            1.   Source of sewer blockage: $1,500 and notice of violation;
            2.   Source of sanitary sewer overflow: $1,500 and notice of violation; and
            3.   Falsification of records: $1,500 and notice of violation.
         (d)   Fourth offense.
            1.   Source of sewer blockage: Sewer service discontinued;
            2.   Source of sanitary sewer overflow: Sewer service discontinued; and
            3.   Falsification of records: Sewer service discontinued.
(Ord. passed 9-13-2021)