Photos by Shelley Hanson Belmont County Commission President J.P. Dutton, left, and Commissioner Jerry Echemann convene their regular meeting on Wednesday.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Commissioners unanimously voted against a request to vacate a portion of an alleyway in the village of Belmont.

The decision was made after some discussion during a public hearing on the matter at Wednesday’s regular board meeting. A resident, Larry Brown, requested that a portion of Locust Street 40 feet wide and 140 feet long, described as an alley, be vacated, or closed to traffic, so he could better construct a house for his daughter on his property. His two pieces of property are on either side of the road.

Another resident, however, said he needs the street to provide another access point to his property. He also noted he planned to improve the alley so a fire engine could fit properly.

Brown pointed out that similar requests have been approved by the commission, including one right next to it.

Commission President J.P. Dutton said based on the county engineer Terri Lively’s recommendation, the road should not be vacated. The motion was approved by Dutton and Commissioners Vince Gianangeli and Jerry Echemann.

In other matters, in response to questions posed by Martins Ferry resident Richard Hord, Dutton said he had not heard any new news regarding the future of shuttered East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry.

“The legal challenge has really complicated that project,” Dutton said.

Harold Ramsey and his company, 360 Healthcare Inc., bought the hospital in June after it was closed by its former owner Dr. John Johnson last March. However, several debts were left outstanding and lawsuits were filed to get creditors their money back.

Hord also asked about Tuesday’s primary election. Dutton said it was a successful one for the county board of elections’ office, but he would have liked to have seen a higher voter turnout.

Hord also asked how the county is fairing during the federal government shutdown. Dutton said the county was doing fine, adding the Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services was keeping the county up to date on matters related to shutdown.

“I hope the shutdown ends soon. There are a lot of things on standby,” he said.

Gianangeli added that SNAP benefits are now expected to be at least partially funded by the federal government during the shutdown.