STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County commissioners recently hired three people to watch over the former Eastern Gateway Community College campus until a new tenant takes over.

Commissioners took title to the building a week ago and, in return, dropped a lawsuit they’d filed in November asking the courts to enforce a provision in a 1968 deed guaranteeing the return of the 84-acre property in the event it was no longer used for educational purposes. EGCC graduated its final class in 2024.

Youngstown State University officials are now doing what Commissioner Tony Morelli had referred to as their “due diligence” prior to using the property as a satellite campus, a process expected to take at least two or three months.

On Monday, commissioners agreed to hire Jason Sturch to serve as maintenance chief; Bob Herceg, security chief; and Christopher Bennett, security.

“We hired three people, it’s something we had to do,” Commissioner Eric Timmons said. “These guys know the building, inside and out. They’ve been responsible for (it) for a long time now and we want a smooth transition.”

All expenses incurred will be reimbursed with Department of Education funds, he said.