Linda Harris PROJECT DISCUSSED — Mark Brough, a representative of EDP Renewables, Thursday offered details about the company’s plans for a solar power park t

STEUBENVILLE — Nothing’s been finalized, but Youngstown State University employees are already in town laying the groundwork for a satellite campus in Steubenville.

Jefferson County Commissioner Tony Morelli said Thursday YSU representatives have been busy, making contacts and gathering information. They’ve even been moving equipment into the building, last used for educational purposes a little more than one year ago when Eastern Gateway Community College graduated its final class.

“They’re working on being 100 percent ready when the deal is complete,” Morelli said after an early meeting with a YSU representative. “It isn’t (complete), but it looks pretty good. They’re spending a good bit of money, even now.”

Morelli said YSU representatives have been busy planning, saying they’ve “been talking to sign companies — they want to put new signs in as fast as they can, and the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, they want to get active in the (community.)”

He said they’ve even reached out to landscapers.

“It was a good meeting. It was good to see how much work they’re already doing,” Morelli said.

Commissioners had announced a month ago that a tentative agreement had been reached for YSU to open a satellite campus in Steubenville, filling the void left when EGCC closed its doors.

“The next thing that really needs to happen is they need some funds from the state to get started,” he said. “All signs (point that way.) I have faith in the state, that they will help them get started, get the first year in, (but) the deal is not signed. I think it’s important (to be) transparent with the community about what they want to do. They’re moving some equipment in, and that’s why they were here — to make sure that we’re OK with them doing some of these things.”

Commissioner Eric Timmons called it “an exciting time, really.”

“We went from a lot of uncertainty to having education back,” he said. “And, in other news, UPMC signed a letter of intent to purchase Trinity, so I think that’s a big thing for our county, as well. A lot of good stuff is going on,”

Commissioner Jake Kleineke agreed, saying he had received a call from someone at UPMC before the Trinity deal was made public “because they didn’t want us to be blindsided,” and pointed out that YSU coming to Jefferson County will mean “educational opportunities, employment opportunities and vocational training opportunities.”

“There are a lot of balls bouncing around out here, and I think YSU taking the building is one of the best, if not the best, things that could happen for a lot of reasons,” Morelli agreed. “It’s good to see they are making plans and contacting local companies as if it is a done deal. All that is needed is help from Columbus funding the startup costs, but I have faith that Gov. Mike DeWine’s team will come through, and classes started in 2026.”

Morelli also pointed out a new residential treatment center preparing to open, Milton Recovery, already has 72 people on the payroll.

“They’re training them now and a lot of those are good-paying jobs — counselors and nurses. I got a call yesterday, and they said they need another nurse practitioner. We’re not talking about $15 an hour jobs, (they’ll pay) nice wages, and it will be good for the tax base.”

The residential program will occupy the old Lancia Nursing Home on Sinclair Avenue behind the Fort Steuben Mall. It’s been approved for 40 beds for detox and residential services to start, though it potentially can grow to 100 beds

Commissioners were told EDP Renewables is planning a small solar power park on a privately-owned parcel in Jefferson County. Company representative Mark Brough said they’ll be leasing property near state Route 152 at county Road 47. He said the project will cover about 25 acres of a 90-acre parcel and said they’ve targeted March for the start of construction.

“It’s an old strip mine (property),” Brough said. “It’s quite well-suited here.”

Morelli pointed out another company had proposed a similar project, albeit larger scale, a couple of years ago, but “that deal fell apart.”

“The reason I’m here is to introduce the project and answer questions,” Brough said. “This is sort of well-sighted, meaning you can’t really see it from the road, so opposition will, I think, be minimal.

Commissioners also:

• Agreed to vacate township Road 196, also known as Bell Road, in Wayne Township. The petition notes the road has been “out of service, impassable and abandoned” for more than 40 years.

• Reappointed Timmons as the county’s 2026 representative for the 2026 Ohio Public Works Commission Program and authorized him to sign all documents for the 2026 projects.

• Were told Markosky Engineering Group had renewed its lease for office space at the Tower building.

• Approved a cooperative agreement between the county and Knox, Salem and Smithfield townships for a joint 2026 Ohio Public Works Commission grant application for road repairs and resurfacing.

• Signed off on an agreement with Environmental Design Group for construction engineering and inspection services for the county Road 6 bridge replacement project. Maximum compensation is capped at $157,618.