THE END of a long journey reached the finish line Wednesday. The trek may have been a lengthy one, but one that will also prove a profitable one.

Belmont County commissioners and the city of Martins Ferry finalized a long-discussed deal for the purchase of the former South School building. Commissioners at their regular meeting handed Ferry officials a check for $50,000 for the structure.

The transaction came as no surprise as it has been in the works for more than a year. But it should play out as a virtual win-win scenario for both the county and the city.

The building purchase was made possible with use of Belmont Senior Services levy funds. The $50,000 will pay for renovations before Senior Services moves in. The former school will house offices, be used for meal preparation and will eventually house the Martins Ferry Senior Center.

We view the site as ideal for its intended purposes. We give credit to county commissioners for their ongoing use of available buildings to consolidate operations.

We also commend the commissioners for doing extensive homework before finalizing the former South School purchase. The county officials inspected several other potential sites before settling with the Ferry venue. That reflects effective leadership.

Martins Ferry, meanwhile, will benefit immensely from the deal. A dormant building — except for housing election day voters — will now be transormed into a vibrant facility.

Employees relocating to the building will not only bring tax yield to city coffers, but will also patronize Martins Ferry businesses. They will provide an ongoing economic boost to the Purple City.

The agreement is one that we totally embrace. Belmont County wins in this scenario, the City of Martins Ferry wins, and as a result, county taxpayers win.

The transaction is one we hope is repeated in similar fashion frequently throughout Belmont County.