WHEELING — Officials at Bluefield State College and in the city of Wheeling expressed optimism about potential for collaborating with three local colleges to provide the best possible array of opportunities for higher education in the Ohio Valley.

Last week, presidents of Wheeling University, West Virginia Northern Community College and West Liberty State University publicly opposed efforts by city officials to bring a new program from Bluefield State College to Wheeling.

The city had entered into a memorandum of understanding with Bluefield State, hoping to work together to allow the college to open a new Engineering and Manufacturing Center in a building at the city-owned former Ohio Valley Medical Center.

Following the local colleges’ objections, some council members expressed concerns over continued support of the BSC proposal.

They noted the original proposal was pitched as one that would neither bring competing educational programs to the market nor have a negative impact on the other local colleges.

Meanwhile, other city leaders have continued to voice support for the Bluefield venture.

“While I cannot speak for all members of city council, I do not see the role of city council here to make decisions as to which institutions can and cannot provide higher education services in our community,” Mayor Glenn Elliott said. “Rather, as our charter dictates, I see our role as facilitating economic development and — in the case of the OVMC properties particularly — being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.

“It is not in the taxpayers’ interest for those properties to sit empty indefinitely with the city paying all holding costs. Nor is it our responsibility to say ‘no’ to outside investment because it might compete with local business or institutions.”

Elliott said that several months ago, Bluefield State’s administrators met with 12 Ohio Valley manufacturers, who desired employees with specific skills and knowledge offered through three fully accredited degree programs that Bluefield State offers.

The mayor and other city officials said they wanted to work with the three local colleges as well as Bluefield State to deliver these needed programs to area students. Dr. Ted Lewis, provost at Bluefield State, expressed the same interest on behalf of his college.

“Bluefield State College’s intent is to extend specific degree programs not currently offered in the Northern Panhandle by providing students and incumbent workers advanced skills that translate into rewarding, high demand careers and meet the workforce needs of the region’s manufacturing sector,” Lewis said.

“BSC is grateful for the city of Wheeling providing space at the former Ohio Valley Medical Center for the delivery of these important programs as this initiative moves forward.

“We remain willing to work with Wheeling University, West Liberty University and West Virginia Northern Community College to expand these educational opportunities for students and industry in and around Wheeling.”

Since entering into the memorandum, city leaders noted that Bluefield State’s move would need the blessing of West Virginia’s Higher Education Policy Commission, which regulates higher education in the state.

“From a practical matter, just about any business or organization that we sell or rent any portion of OVMC to is going to compete with other local businesses and organizations in some form or another,” Elliott said.

“Giving local institutions what in effect amounts to veto rights for economic development initiatives is no recipe for revitalizing any city.”

Councilman Ty Thorngate agreed, noting that since acquiring OVMC, the city’s goal has been returning buildings on the property back to private sector entities.

“We’re not interested in being long-term landlords,” Thorngate said.

“To date, we’ve had multiple entities kick the tires, but Bluefield State was the first to offer a real plan for the property. The current MOU is a non-binding document that gives Bluefield State the ability to do their due diligence on the property.

“Nothing more, nothing less.”

Councilman Jerry Sklavounakis believes bringing back mental health and emergency room services should be a long-term goal for OVMC. He said the Bluefield State proposal was conceived as a starting point through the MOU, not a long-term agreement.

He added that the concerns of the other colleges will have to be weighed by city council if the HEPC approves Bluefield State’s request.

“City council will have to make a decision about whether or not to move forward with a long-term agreement,” Sklavounakis said. “It’s a true balancing test, wherein we need to ensure the final decision will help and not hurt our community.”

Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron, whose efforts have helped move the BSC collaboration forward, called the local colleges’ opposition “disappointing.” He stressed that the memorandum is non-binding — and not the only one in place for the OVMC property.

“Since we’ve owned OVMC, we’ve had a number of entities express interest in acquiring space there,” Herron said. “We have three MOUs — all non-binding — with different entities doing due diligence, and obviously, Bluefield State is one of them.”

Any potential lease for use of the property still will have to come before city council again for a formal approval, Herron explained.

Elliott noted that the past year has been especially difficult on higher educational institutions in general, and he has “tremendous respect” for each of the three local colleges. He believes their opposition is coming from a genuine concern for their own viability, and is willing to host a meeting between them and Bluefield State.

“I certainly understand why the leaders of these institutions don’t want to see any further negative pressure on their respective enrollment,” Elliott said.

Wheeling University in particular has faced serious challenges in recent years. The Higher Learning Commission recently placed WU on probation after determining the school relied too heavily on subsidies received from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and did not have sufficient fiscal resources to support its own operation.

“I would hope that the leaders of the city, during this time of vulnerability, would support our institution and forbear implementing actions that would harm our employees and students,” Wheeling University President Ginny Favede said in a statement this week, noting that the institution has served the city and the Ohio Valley for the past 67 years as “Wheeling’s university.”