MONROE — For 15 years, Elbert Tannreuther has presided over this village's rapid transformation into an expanding city strategically located for even more growth. But tonightMr. Tannreuther, the mayor, will oversee his final City Council meeting before retiring Jan. 1.

        Sworn in on Jan. 1 1986, the 71-year-old Mr. Tannreuther has seen Monroe grow from a village of 1,500 to a city of more than 7,500. It crosses from Butler County over the Warren County line along Interstate-75.

        In 1995, the village became a city and now Monroe is growing in economic power and stature among communities along the I-75 corridor of Southwest Ohio. Many people here credit Mr. Tannreuther's leadership.

        After pushing his city's progress for the nearly three decades he has been a city official — 13 of the last 28 years as a member of City Council and the last 15 as mayor — he says the best is still to come.

        “There are exciting things out there on the horizon for Monroe. We're sitting in a beautiful spot,” he said, referring to the city's economic artery to I-75 via the Ohio 63 interchange.

        “There's nothing we can do but grow. ... We just have to do it right,” said Mr. Tannreuther, who retired from a supervisor's position with AK Steel in 1992.

        “Progress is like a runaway train. You can step in front of it and get killed, or you can throw the right track switches and control where it goes,” he said.

        Studies have estimated that 82,200 vehicles per day travel on I-75 between Ohio 129 and Ohio 63, and 77,900 vehicles per day use the interstate between Ohio 63 and Ohio 122.

        The mayor and other council members recently decided to move on upgrading Ohio 63 east of the inter state to Union Road in anticipation of eventual state funding that will dramatically expand the interchange's traffic capacity. Monroe officials hope to attract more commercial and retail development just east of the interchange.

        Early next month, the seven-member council will vote in a new mayor.

        Monroe Councilman Steve Campbell said Mr. Tannreuther's “strong-willed” personality helped put the city in its advantageous position.

        “He has been a very fair leader and he always tries to maintain Monroe's small- town personality,” Mr. Campbell said.

        Though the mayor said he looks forward to spending more time with his wife of 51 years and his three grown children and grandchildren, he promised to continue to assist Monroe's government on a consulting basis.

        A Tannreuther will still be helping to guide Monroe. The mayor's son, Steve, recently won in his first attempt at elected office. He will be sworn in as a council member in January.

        “I dearly love this city and I'll miss this job immensely,” the mayor said. “But there comes a time when you have to give it to someone else.”

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