Misuse of grease traps by some Selinsgrove businesses costing borough thousands of dollars

Mar. 4—SELINSGROVE — Selinsgrove borough officials are considering increasing penalties on businesses that fail to properly maintain grease traps.

The borough has spent several thousand dollars flushing sewer pipes clogged by grease that has been dumped into the system in the past few years, council member Bobbie Owens said at Monday's public meeting.

Commercial businesses are required to provide a quarterly report to the borough demonstrating their grease traps are being cleaned, but not all are complying, she said.

"We think we know where the trouble areas are" but there's no way to specify which businesses are not complying, said James Emery, a Central Keystone Council of Government code enforcement officer.

Council member Scott Frost said it's time the municipality "stop kicking the can" and address the problem. "Let's do something," he said.

Borough Manager Lauren Martz said "tweaks" to the ordinance and strict enforcement — including fines — may be needed.

As the council prepares to review the matter, borough solicitor Robert Cravitz cautioned that the issue may impact not just restaurants, but other businesses and organizations, including churches, funeral homes, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove Area School District.

"You'll have to be consistent," he said.