Any expansion of government control should be taken only after other options are explored. After years of debate and worry, Sunbury seems to have reached such a crossroads in the city's struggle to cope with the number of rundown rental units in the municipality.

This week, city council discussed an ordinance that would require landlords to obtain a license. Among other things, the measure would require landlords to perform criminal background checks on potential tenants, provide the city with floor plans and notify the code office when a new tenant picks up the keys.

Those measures are worthwhile. The community will benefit if all landlords are required to meet standards already satisfied by scrupulous property owners.

Property values should increase and people who are now loathe to live in certain neighborhoods may be willing to call Sunbury home.

Will landlords be punished if tenants welcome criminals into their homes? Are tenants expected to conduct criminal background checks upon their associates?

Such questions remain less significant than the overall value of the proposal.

City officials deserve credit for considering ways to encourage responsible rental-tenant relationships.

City residents showed up en masse at a recent public meeting to discuss Sunbury's future. Their interest should not be squandered by a lack of action.

A solution will not come overnight. Licensing landlords seems like a reasonable way to start toward the goal.