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STEUBENVILLE -- UPMC representatives told the Jefferson County Commissioners Thursday that continuing the Prime Time program is one of their priorities as they take the reins at Trinity Health System next week.
Executive Vice President Joel Yuhas said they're excited about the "investments in this community" that lie ahead as Trinity officially becomes the 46th hospital to join the UPMC network.
UPMC officials have told commssioners they are "fully committed" to preserving and strengthening Prime Time "because we know local seniors rely on its services, particularly meals and transportation, every day" and also pointed to their long history of supporting seniors and community-based services in the regions it serves.
"We are excited about continuing that commitment to the seniors and communities of transportation and meal services," he said. "The program itself would operate at a loss without the tax levy support so we appreciate your consideration of continued funding for that program, and UPMC will continue to subsidize the delta of the program as its community benefit to this region."
Trinity currently subsidizes what the levy doesn't cover -- the delta -- and UPMC would continue doing that.
Yuhas said UPMC traditionally "transforms community with health care," and that's not going to change in Jefferson County.
"We're not part of a system that's thousands of miles away, we're 44 miles away and truly transform communities by identifying where gaps in care exist," he said. "We've been spending a lot of time going back-and-forth between Pittsburgh and Steubenville, getting to meet the medical staff, getting to meet our employees, all of whom signed their employment agreements and physician services agreements so that we can continue to build on that and bring more services to this community, as we've done in others."
Commissioner Eric Timmons said it's an "exciting" time for the community.
"We've been talking about it for a while, the possibility," he said. "I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes."
Commissioners Jake Kleineke and Tony Morelli said it was "good news," with Morelli adding UPMC's interest in continuing the Prime Time program is a positive, "and they understand that it's going to cost a couple dollars to ,
"He said that it won't work without the levy but even with the levy, it's not going to be self-sustainable," he added.
Commissioners also said they were pleased with the contacts and exposure gained from the Great American Rail-Trail's bike tour, which passed through Steubenville and Jefferson County earlier in the week.
Cyclists rode the Panhandle Trail from Pittsburgh to Weirton Tuesday, then were shuttled across the river to Historic Fort Steuben to meet with locals. On Wednesday they toured Hellbender Preserve before making their way to Columbus.
"There were 32 people, some large donors and national press," said Arron Dodds, project manager for the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District. "It was pretty exciting because National Public Radio was there, and several reporters who work for magazines such as National Geographic and Rolling Stone. So, during the next month or so you are going to see (stories about) all of the progress that we are making in Jefferson County with you guys' support."
He said that while the national media helped bring attention to the area, "we had some local partners who were energized and want to hit the gas pedal and get more work done."
Commissioners also:
* Authorized County Engineer Eric Hilty to advertise the Ohio Public Works Commission county Road 54 slip repair project, which consists of one drilled shaft retaining wall with precast concrete lagging along county Road 54. The engineer's estimate is $130,608 and OPWC would fund a portion of the work, Hilty said.
* Finalized the JD Striping and Services contract for the fall pavement marking program. The Ravenna company will be paid just under $102,558 for its work.
* Signed a road use maintenance agreement with Jefferson Gathering Co. for the Bodhi pipeline project.
* Adopted the county's 2026 hazard mitigation plan.
* Approved payment of $6,842.37 to AEP Ohio to cover the county's half of the electricity bill for the 2026 county fair.
* Signed off on the sheriff department's agreement to provide a school resource officer for the alternative school.