Two local restaurant owners attended the Ringgold City Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 25, to speak with the council on the issue of installing grease traps and/or grease interceptors in their establishments.

Kevin Schwartz, owner of the Domino’s Pizza in the Food Lion shopping center, and Peggy Williams, who owns Cottage Treasures Tea Room & Gift Shop at 170 Cleveland St., presented their cases to the council.

Schwartz, who has owned the Ringgold Domino’s location for 13 years, said his establishment is actually consid-ered a “bakery” and it releases minimal grease into the sewerage system.

“We’re do not process any food. Our items such as wings are baked, and very little grease is accumulated,” Schwartz said. “We’re a carryout and delivery store. There’s no dining and no public restrooms, and so we have very little water usage as well.”

Schwartz went on to say that his business uses about 250 gallons of water per day. “We use equal to or less than the average home,” he said.

Schwartz, who also owns Domino’s locations in Fort Oglethorpe, East Ridge, Tenn., and Harrison, Tenn., indi-cated that his other stores do comply by using a grease interceptor, but until now he had not had an issue in Ring-gold.

Patty Williams presented a similar argument, saying that the size of her business and the preparation of its food don’t propose much of a problem.

“We have a very small efficient kitchen,” Williams said. “We do no grilling. A small amount of baking, and all of our sandwiches, are made from deli meats.”

Williams said her business serves about 20-22 customers daily. “We’re only open for three hours each day Tues-day through Saturday, and if at all, the amount of grease in the system would be very minute,” Williams said.

The council agreed to evaluate both establishments before carrying out a decision. Mayor Joe Barger said both establishments might have to install traps if deemed necessary, but that a decision would be made after videos of the sewerage lines at the businesses are evaluated.

In a related item, the council also discussed adopting a FOG — fats, oils, and grease — policy identical to Chat-tanooga’s FOG policy, but also delayed making the decision official until the next meeting.

In other business at the Jan 25 council meeting:

· The council discussed the exit 345 engineering selection process and voted that, due to the size and importance of the project, it would pre-qualify three larger established firms and chose from only those bids.

· The council denied John Helper’s request for assistance on the Whittmore Street water problem. The council stated that Whittmore is not a city street, therefore the city will not maintain the gravel road.

· The council approved the clear well cleaning at the water plant.

· The council approved a request by Richard Ball to hold a Celtic Highland Festival in Ringgold. The event will be similar to the 1890s Days festival and will take place over Labor Day weekend.

· The council gave an update on the Three Notch sewer process, indicating that the entire process is being held up by surveying issues.