JOHNSTOWN - The city Fire Department will take a "zero-tolerance" approach to blight and poor property maintenance.

First Ward Councilwoman Cynthia Lakata said the Fire Department will keep an eye out for code violations, especially since the city cleanup program has been completed.

"We are strictly enforcing our property maintenance code and blight will have a zero tolerance," Lakata said. "Keep it clean or get a ticket."

Fire Chief Bruce Heberer said the department wants the public to know it can't let properties become blighted.

"Our policy is that we try to have a voluntary compliance," he said.

He said he won't bother people with court appearances for "a little bit of garbage," but people can't let their properties get out of hand.

"Our citizens are really good," Heberer said.

He said the blight situation is about "200 percent better" in the city now than it was in the 1980s and 1990s.

Heberer's May fire report, which was given by Lakata at a council meeting Monday, showed the department's Codes Division had more than 725 inspections and responses to property complaints that month.

Also in his report, Heberer said the Fire Department responded to 52 calls for service in May. These included three minor structure fires, several motor vehicle accidents and service calls, including five grass and brush fires and three medical-assistance calls.

Lakata said 95 permits were issued by the department - up from 56 during the same month in 2008 - with the total estimated costs of new projects totaling $470,892.

Mayor Sarah J. Slingerland said the fact that $470,000 worth of building improvements are being made in the city is important to the future of the city.

"It's very significant about what's going on in the city - a telling number," the mayor said.

During May, the Fire Department also conducted in-service training. Topics included search and rescue operations; and ropes, knots and rigging techniques. The Codes Division in May conducted training on light truss construction requirements and fire safety issues.

Police report

At Monday's meeting, Lakata also presented the city Police Department report for May, which showed there were 52 arrests for the month. There were 962 calls for service during the month and 123 traffic tickets issued. A total of 40 parking tickets were issued in May. City Court fine money collected for the month totaled $4,512.

Police officer training for May included firearms training. Juvenile handling and processing was also the subject of other training.

Officers were involved in various community policing efforts during May. They included tours of the police station, bicycle safety programs, a presence in the recent Johnstown Memorial Day Parade and a Police Benevolent Association softball tournament.

Lakata said Officer Adam Schwabrow and K-9 Spike gave two demonstrations during the month.

Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.