MASON — The city needs to move forward with plans to revitalize downtown, despite lingering indecision over the traffic situation, members of City Council said Monday in renewing a consultant's contract.

        Mason already has paid LSR Consultants $79,848 since 1999 to lead talks on how to jump-start the growing city's stagnant core, and council voted 7-0 Monday to extend that for a year. But Councilman Tom Grossman said the work shouldn't take more than four or five months to complete.

        “I think it's time for them to finish up,” Mr. Grossman said before the meeting.

        LSR is working in conjunction with Poggemeyer Design Group, which has a $79,000 contract to develop the revitalization plan. When they're done, Mr. Grossman said, council will get community feedback on the plan and then decide what action to take.

        Councilman Dick Staten supported the LSR contract extension but said earlier Monday that since council voted against widening U.S. 42, the city is going to have to look at the other options for improving traffic through downtown.

        “I still think there's a traffic issue that has to be addressed,” Mr. Staten said.

        In other business Monday:

        • Council agreed to donate $25,000 over five years toward expansion of the Humane Association of Warren County's animal shelter.

        • The Mason Youth Organization donated $10,000 to the parks and recreation department.

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