LEBANON — The Tristate's streak of subfreezing weather is proving costly to more than just homeowners: It also means Lebanon's controversial rental of an electric generator could run $60,000 — almost twice as much as expected.

        City Council will vote on emergency legislation today to extend the contract for the generator, rented more than three weeks ago for Franklin Brazing, the city's first industrial park tenant.

IF YOU GO

• What: Special council meeting. • When: 8 a.m. today. • Where: 50 S. Broadway, Lebanon.

        The action would take the generator's rental above $15,000 — the point at which the state requires bids.

        However, exceptions are made for emergencies, City Attorney Mark Yurick said Thursday. The city could not have foreseen the weather, he said, and if it doesn't take action Franklin Brazing's pipes could burst, causing an even more costly mess.

        The rental created a flap last month because City Manager James Patrick did not say in a council work session that he had authorized it, even when several council members said they opposed the rental.

        The rental was necessary, Mr. Patrick said, because the city had not yet provided electricity to Columbia Business Park as planned and Franklin Brazing had deadlines approaching for orders.

        Mr. Patrick said then that it would take Cinergy two weeks to run temporary lines to the park and that the generator would not cost more than $15,000 for a month. Fuel was estimated to cost the city an additional $11,000 every two weeks.

        However, Cinergy and city electric workers haven't been able work on the project because of the weather, so the temporary lines remain unfinished.

        Today's legislation would authorize renting the generator at $5,500 a week for three more weeks, Mr. Yurick said. The ordinance allowing up to $30,000 spent on fuel remains in effect.

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