STEUBENVILLE — Jefferson County commissioners were asked Thursday to do all they can to keep a community college in Steubenville.

Thomas “Bo” Graham, who served as dean of academics at Eastern Gateway Community College and has taught sociology and social work courses, was one of several instructors in attendance at a commission meeting who talked about their concern that the students and staff are going to pay the price for mismanagement at the school, pointing out that many students who choose community college “are there to get a good start (or) maybe they can’t afford” a four-year school.

“We’re asking you to look at or consider the possibility of keeping a community college in Jefferson County, even if we have to start from scratch, build it back up to a community college here in Jefferson County,” Graham, a former county commissioner and Democratic candidate, said on behalf of the group.

“There are people willing to do that, faculty are willing to do that. Hopefully, we can work this all out — there are a lot of people whose livelihoods have been affected by this, hundreds of people in their 30s, 40s and 50s have been laid off. I don’t want that to get lost in this process — people are losing their livelihoods because of the decisions made by higher-ups that weren’t conducive to keeping this college the way it ought to be.”

EGCC has paused enrollment beyond the spring semester. While the initial announcement, released by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, said it offered an opportunity for the college to evaluate options to resolve financial issues resulting from delays in federal reimbursements, the state has made no secret of its plan to bring a Youngstown State University branch to Steubenville.

YSU administrators and faculty have reportedly been in the EGCC building inspecting equipment and laboratories.

According to some of those present, more than 150 union jobs and 100 other staff positions have been lost.

Commissioner Eric Timmons said livelihoods are at stake and high school students may not have the same opportunities.

“This didn’t happen overnight, it was going on for a long time,” he said. “What I’d like to know is did anyone report this to third parties, to outside people?”

The commissioners were told that complaints had been made from 2016 on, and members of the group made allegations that some people had lost their jobs after filing the reports.

Commissioner Dave Maple pointed out it’s unlikely the state is going to consult the commissioners, “(though) we do have teeth with the levy.”

The levy, which generates about $1.3 million a year, is earmarked to be used primarily to cover tuition costs for high school students from Jefferson County who enroll at EGCC immediately after graduation. It expires in 2026.

Years ago, commissioners deeded the 84-acre site, which formerly housed the county infirmary, to the Jefferson County Technical Institute. A reflection on the school’s then 50-year history, published in 2018, reported voters had passed a levy in the 1960s to “build and support the new school,” though ownership of the building — and what could happen to the land — is still being researched.

“If the doors shut today, I think (the property) might revert back to the county,” Commissioner Tony Morelli said. “Before anybody else comes in … we may have a bigger say about who comes in (than we think.)”

“I think I can speak for all of us, we would have loved for this to not have happened. It’s good to be on record that we have people like you who want to keep it, I’m for that — but I don’t know what the next step is,” Morelli added.

Graham suggested a grassroots campaign to reach state and federal lawmakers.

“A lot of people are willing to help with that, get that going,” he said.

Maple said at the end of the day, “I hope we’re all aimed at the same goal, to keep people employed and keep people educated at a cost (that’s affordable.)”

Commissioners also agreed to nominate proposed waterline replacement projects in Amsterdam and Bergholz for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Water Supply Revolving Loan Account, which puts them “on the list” for funding.

“Nominating for a low-interest loan gets the project on the radar and opens them up for other funding sources, including H2Ohio grants,” Water and Sewer District Director Mike Eroshevich said.

He added the county is under no obligation to accept funds, should they be awarded.

“Just so the public knows, this is the first step in trying to correct (the problems in those communities),” Timmons said.

He said employees are working to determine the source of an unexplained influx of groundwater into Amsterdam’s new treatment plant.

“Last July we started receiving more flow than we should be,” Eroshevich said. “We’re trying to locate where it is coming from.”

Eroshevich said the next step is to place flow meters in manholes “to start narrowing it down, where the flow is coming from.”

Commissioners also:

• Gave their approval for Eroshevich to attend a two-day training session in April, necessary to meet his continuing education requirement.

• Accepted the resignation of wastewater treatment plant operator Josh Troski, and authorized Eroshevich to begin the process to replace him.

Following the business meeting, commissioners had a work session to iron out issues that have arisen between the humane society and animal shelter.