Photo by Stephanie Elverd Martins Ferry Police Chief Vince West discusses the deteriorating condition of the former East Ohio Regional Hospital and ongoing activity at the property during a City Council meeting Wednesday.

MARTINS FERRY — City officials say they are not giving up on restoring hospital services at the former East Ohio Regional Hospital site, even as the long-vacant property continues to deteriorate amid thefts, legal disputes and uncertainty over ownership.

Leaders expressed a mix of frustration and determination during Wednesday’s council discussion, with some urging caution after years of failed operators while others emphasized the community’s ongoing need for local health care access.

“I hope we don’t stop fighting to try to get that back open as a hospital or a type of emergency facility. I think we need one and with the number of residents we have here, there’s still not enough medical coverage for them,” Service Director Andy Sutak said. “The brick-and-mortar is still in pretty good shape. The new part of the hospital is still pretty new. The emergency room and stuff. The surgical room is still new so we need someone from the state to step up and help us.”

Others were more skeptical, pointing to a pattern of troubled ownership.

“My opinion is we should just write it off and go in another direction. They’ve been fleecing us for a long, long time,” Councilman Gus Harris said. “The fly-bys have been coming here, opening up a hospital and ripping people off and then taking off.”

The hospital property, closed since March 20, 2025, has become a growing concern for police and city officials.

Since the closure, the vacant complex has been the target of repeated break-ins, thefts and vandalism. Martins Ferry police say suspects have entered through multiple access points, stripping copper wiring, pipes and other materials, sometimes causing significant structural damage. Officers have recovered thousands of dollars worth of cut wiring and tools, and juveniles have been found with stolen items such as radios and electronics. Police also have reported evidence of people staying inside the building.

Police Chief Vince West said not all activity at the site is clearly criminal.

“These are not criminals. It’s like the stealing of copper and stuff. There are people, I believe, who are the owners or own the equipment,” West said.

West added that recent removal of property from the site was, to his knowledge, done by those with legal claims.

“The owner ended up coming in and taking a lot of stuff back out. The state has been called and they want me to block it and I said ‘give me a court order and I have no problem with it at all’ but I can’t just tell people not to take things,” West said. “I do know a lot of things have been taken out. I’ve seen everything from X-rays to CAT scans to MRI terminals going out. It’s really disheartening when you see the inside of that place and it’s a shame.”

Safety Director Melissa Yeso said companies holding liens on equipment have been reclaiming assets, while the current owner has also hired a company to remove valuable items.

West said the situation is further complicated by ongoing legal and financial issues.

When asked whether the former owners of the hospital still owe the city money, West said, “they owe a lot of people money.”

City officials said it remains unclear whether the property or business is still tied up in bankruptcy proceedings, limiting what actions the city can take.

The lack of clear ownership has also made it difficult to secure or maintain the site. Council members noted concerns about the hospital’s parking lot, which is being used by nearby businesses despite no apparent oversight.

“There’s no one here governing that. There are a couple people representing the last owner, but they don’t seem to be upset at [the parking lot] use,” West said.

The former hospital has faced years of instability marked by ownership changes and financial troubles. Originally founded in 1906, the facility reopened in 2021 under new ownership after a 2019 closure. But by early 2025, departments were shutting down, employees missed paychecks and health insurance coverage was canceled due to nonpayment.

The hospital’s abrupt closure in March 2025 left hundreds unemployed and led to lawsuits alleging unpaid wages and lack of required notice. Financial problems continued afterward, including more than $1 million in delinquent property taxes, foreclosure proceedings and disputes with lenders and former employees.

Although the facility was purchased in June 2025 by a new company with plans to reopen it, those efforts stalled amid additional legal challenges, leaving the future of the site uncertain.

Despite those setbacks, some city officials say the need for a hospital remains unchanged — and worth pursuing.

“We need one,” Sutak said.