PUBLIC NOTICE ORDINANCE To Amend Alexander City Code Chapter 90, Article IV - Sewers and Sewage Disposal BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Alexander City, Alabama, that Chapter 90 of the Alexander City Code of Ordinances is hereby amended as follows: sect. 90-195: Grease Control Program (a) Introduction. The city sewer collection department and wastewater treatment department have the responsibility to collect, convey, and treat sanitary sewage in the city. Both of these departments report to the Director of Water Services and the superintendent of utilities, whose duties are performed by the mayor. It is the intent of this section to prevent the discharge of FOG to the sewer system. The FOG Program Inspector and/or Director of Water Services reserves the right to make FSFs take reasonable measures as necessary to accomplish this objective. Applicant means the owner or agent of any food service facility submitting an application for a food service facility grease control permit to the Water Services department. Commissary, see food service facility Filter means an effluent grease filter, installed and operated in accordance with this section and the manufacturer's recommendations, typically a Polylok 625 or equivalent that must be pre-approved by the Water Services Director and/or the FOG Program Inspector prior to installation. Permit (grease) means written authorization to discharge wastewater to the city's sanitary sewer system and approved by the FOG Program Inspector and/or Water Services Director, to the owner of a food service facility or his/her authorized agent. Permits are non-transferable, which means that a new permit is required for a change of owner or location. (d) Grease control program requirements. (1) Permit requirements for food service facilities. a. Application and fees. Any facility meeting the definition of a FSF must apply for and obtain a grease control program permit from the Water Services department and approved by the FOG Inspector and/or Water Services Director. All former exemptions, whether explicit or implied, are no longer valid as of the effective date of this section. New FSFs must have an approved grease permit prior to beginning food service operations. For recurring permittees, permits must be renewed prior to December 31 and shall become effective on January 1 of each new calendar year. Any permit not renewed prior to January 15 will be assessed a late fee in addition to the renewal fee. A non-current Grease Permit could result in cessation of water service to the FSF. The following fee schedule shall apply: Late fee $50.00 All fees must be made payable to The City of Alexander City and remitted to the following address or through the use of the online portal: City of Alexander City 281 James D. Nabors Dr. Alexander City, AL 35010 a. Grease traps (outdoor)-Standard specification. All FSFs must have a private grease control system as described within the ordinance. Multiple FSFs on a single trap/interceptor are not allowed. All new and upgraded/modified grease traps must be installed with a Polylok 625 filter type (or equivalent) in the most downstream tank, filter support, entrance down pipe and traffic rated height adjustable tank lids (standard city casting) as shown in the side section view diagram. Any variation from this diagram must be approved by the FOG Program Inspector and/or Water Services Director. Grease traps shall have a capacity of not less than two 1,000-gallon traps installed in series for a total capacity of 2,000 gallons (unless otherwise approved by the FOG Program Inspector and/or Water Services Director). Additionally, the furthest downstream discharge orifice of the tank(s) must be fitted with a Polylok 625 filter or equivalent commercial grease filter that was pre-approved by the grease FOG Program Inspector and that is sized appropriately for the peak flow and installed according to manufacturer's specifications. Upgrades/renovations of more than 51 percent of the county appraised value will require multifamily complex owners to address FOG control for the property. Plans to address the issue will be evaluated for approval by the city engineer FOG Inspector and Water Services Director and may include separation of gray water plumbing, installation of grease traps or purchasing a bond (two percent of the county appraisal value of the complex) to apply toward maintenance. b. Alternative GRDS. An alternative GRD or system, to include an indoor grease interceptor, smaller outdoor grease trap (tank), lesser number of grease tanks, or any other reduction in specification will be considered on an individual basis. Any application for GRDs other than the standard grease trap details outlined above must be requested in the alternative grease removal system request form. It is incumbent upon the applicant to detail any hardships and to provide the rationale for the request for altered specifications. The applicant shall provide the following information, in addition to the required form, to the FOG Program Inspector and/or Water Services Director for evaluation of the proposed system: The alternative grease removal system request form and proposal will be reviewed by the FOG Program Inspector and/or Water Services Director to ensure that the proposed system is protective of the sewer system. At a minimum, the grease removal system must be capable of removing FOG to a concentration of 150 ppm or less as measured in samples taken from the sampling port during regular operating hours and peak flow. In no case will an alternative grease removal solution be approved that involves chemical reduction of grease. All alternative GRDS will require the installation of a sampling vault. (4) Maintenance requirements for grease removal devices (GRDs). The "25 Percent Rule" requires that the depth of oil and grease (floating and settled) in a trap shall be less than 25 percent of the total operating depth of the trap. The operating depth of a trap is determined by measuring the internal depth from the outlet water elevation to the bottom of the trap. Maintenance of outdoor grease traps shall be performed as frequently as necessary to protect the city's sanitary sewer system against the accumulation of FOG. Maintenance shall be performed as determined by the FOG Program Inspector and application of the "25 Percent Rule". Maintenance of indoor grease interceptors shall be performed as frequently as necessary to protect the sanitary sewer system against the accumulation of FOG. Maintenance shall be performed at intervals specified in the permit, or as required by the FOG Program Inspector, and the interceptor must be filled with cold, potable water. FSFs which operate infrequently, for special events only, or whose history of maintenance supports, may request a modification to the maintenance schedule specified above. The FOG Program Inspector and/or Water Services Director may, under these special conditions, authorize a maintenance frequency less frequent than the 90-day minimum that would continue to ensure compliance with the 25 percent rule. The owner shall be responsible for retaining records of the maintenance of grease interceptors and traps including hauler manifests, correspondence, sampling data and any other documentation that may be requested by the FOG Program Inspector and/or the Water Services Director. These records shall include the dates of service, volume of waste removed, waste hauler, and disposal site of waste. These records shall be kept on-site at the location of the grease trap for a period of one year three years and are subject to review without prior notification. (g) Inspections by the FOG Program Inspector and/or Water Services. Compliance inspections may be conducted at the discretion of the FOG Inspector and/or Water Services Director. The city reserves the right to require the FSF to contact the FOG Inspector and/or Water Services Director prior to the scheduled pumping maintenance by the grease hauler such that the FOG Program Inspector, at his discretion, might observe the maintenance while it is being performed. Any ordinance or provisions of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance is hereby repealed and rescinded insofar as they conflict with the provisions of this ordinance. This Ordinance shall become effective upon its passage and publication as required by law. ADOPTED THIS 15TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025. /s/Audrey Colvin By: Audrey "Buffy" Colvin, President Alexander City Council AUTHENTICATED THIS 15TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025. /s/Stephanie J. Southerland By: Stephanie J. Southerland City Clerk APPROVED: By: Curtis "Woody" Baird Mayor Yeas: Tapley, Goree, E. Brown, Colvin, Phillips Nays: None Abstain: C. Brown Alex City Outlook: Sept. 20, 2025 ORD 25-22/SEWER