KINGSFORD — Kingsford City Council has approved ordinance amendments for blight and noise that will take effect in May.

“It’s been the number one complaint since I’ve been here,” City Manager Mike Stelmaszek said of the blight ordinance, number 292. “I’m strongly in favor of it. It’s one that can be enforced and one that would make public happy.”

He added that it can be modified later if things aren’t working.

Council member Dennis Baldinelli worried that the ordinance would keep people from doing remodeling if they can’t keep materials in their yards. But other council members said that if materials are piled neatly and covered they should be fine.

The purpose of the blight ordinance is to prevent, reduce or eliminate blight and other public nuisances. All blight and cause of blight are described as a public nuisance. The person or persons would receive a written notice and have 10 days for removal.

Any expense incurred by the city to in repairing, tearing down, abating or otherwise removing blight would be charged to the person responsible. That person would have 30 days to pay or it will be charged to the next tax assessment.

The person could also be subject to a civil fine of not more than $500, plus any expenses the city directly or indirectly incurs.

Examples of blight include junk vehicles, building materials and garbage.

Structures that are no longer habitable and could cause injury must be removed or repaired. Junk vehicles must be stored in a lawful building or behind a 6-foot privacy fence or trailer. Vacant structures must be locked and windows glazed or boarded up to prevent unauthorized entry.

Amendment 293, for noise, prohibits excessive, unnecessary, and unusually loud noises or those that are prolonged, unusual and unnatural in their time, place and use or that disturb the peace. Those in violation would be subject to a fine of not more than $500 for each offense.

The blight and noise measures were adopted unanimously by the council April 18.

In other business, the council:

— Approved sending Public Safety Sgt. Brandon Rutter to a five-day negotiator school in Beulah. The cost is $525 for the class, $500 for hotel and $250 for meals and approximately $1,000 in man hours. The money will come from the department’s training budget. Currently the department has one trained negotiator, but he will be retiring in June.

— Interviewed five people for two open positions in the public works department and sent conditional letters of employment to two of them.