By Jon Gambrell
Enquirer contributor

LEBANON - A local businessman wants to bring a new taxi service to this Warren County seat, but a city council ordinance rewriting rules for cabs may put the brakes on his plans.

Craig Knox, who runs Bartoni's Pizzeria in Lebanon, says with a growing older population and people without cars, he could make a profit running his two-minivan operation.

"I got the idea from hearing people complain about not being able to get from here to there," he said. "I think there's a need. It's a good business move for myself."

Currently, only the private company UTS serves the city. Warren County Transit Services also offers rides to those older than 60 or low-income passengers.

Now, City Councilman J. Matthew Rodriguez is sponsoring an ordinance for a rewrite of taxicab regulations in Lebanon after learning of Knox's plans.

"It's not that we've discouraged taxi cabs. ... We're just a rapid-transit town," Rodriguez said.

Knox is worried a provision of the new ordinance requiring all taxis to be metered would make his business unprofitable. He wants to charge a flat rate for all travel within the city.