LEBANON — Plans to rebuild Main Street here could put the Golden Lamb, Ohio's oldest continuously operating inn, out of business, general manager Paul Resetar told City Council on Tuesday.

        “If it affects the success of downtown ... the Golden Lamb will be in jeopardy,” Mr. Resetar said. More than 200,000 people eat there annually, he said, and he can't afford to draw even 15,000 fewer people.

        Council made no decision during its Tuesday night finance committee meeting, which was attended by about 30 business owners and residents from Main Street.

        A planned 2-mile reconstruction has been opposed by Main Street residents for months.

        Construction would take 13 to 19 months and would reroute traffic onto Silver and Mulberry streets and nearby state routes.

        Ohio 63 follows Main Street on the west side of town, and Ohio 123 follows it on the east. Truckers use the road to cut between Interstates 71 and 75.

        The $10 million project would remove residential parking along both sides to make room for a middle turn lane that would bring traffic closer to historic homes. Workers also would level a hump in the street and install sewer and underground electrical lines.

        The city has been trying to get the street repaired for about 30 years, and state officials told council in July that they won't help pay for the work if the city won't allow the widening.

        Only one council member — Mark Flick — has gone on record opposing the project, but business owners promise to step up the pressure on council members to stop it.

        The project will proceed unless council votes against it. It would begin next spring.

        Mr. Flick said Tuesday that council should consider putting the project to a public vote.

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