By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEBANON - It's a tricky balancing act, city council candidates here say: how to preserve Lebanon's historical roots while developing carefully for the future.

During the 1990s, Warren County, including Lebanon, added more than 44,000 residents. It's the second fastest-growing county in Ohio and the nation's 45th.

Despite the growth, the city's downtown business remains a Mecca for antique stores and other, locally owned, historically oriented businesses and architecture that draws visitors from throughout the region.

If growth is managed right, says candidate Jeffrey Aylor, businesses will relocate to Lebanon and bring with them more professional workers for Lebanon's already growing population.

"We can do both - preserve the city history and grow for the future," says Aylor, one of eight candidates for three open seats on the Lebanon City Council. "There is no reason for the professional work force in Lebanon to have to drive to Cincinnati or Dayton when we can start attracting businesses here.

"People are moving out of Hamilton and Montgomery counties, but so far it's the people who have been moving and not the companies. We need to be proactive and recruit those companies to Lebanon," he said.

Council incumbent James Reinhard stressed the current needs of the city's estimated 18,000 residents must be met and maintained, including infrastructure and expansion of police and fire services.

"We need to take care of the basics before moving on," Reinhard said, citing the city's 5.5 mill fire levy that will also be on the Nov. 4 ballot. The property tax increase would pay for a second fire station and reduce emergency run times.

Other candidates for city council are: incumbent Benjamin Cole; Mark Flick; Andrew Wiethe; Jon Rodriguez and Chuck Higgins.

"We need controlled growth," said Reinhard. "There is room to grown here and we need more businesses to continue to grow our industrial tax base but our quality of life here is under stress."

Incumbent councilman Ron Pandorf also favors controlled growth because otherwise "I fear for the city's history.

"And it has to be family-oriented community growth because the future is in the family," said Pandorf.

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com