A Youngstown State University flag has been raised at the former Eastern Gateway Community College campus on Sunset Boulevard in Steubenville, one of the changes expected as YSU rebrands the site as its own. (Photo by Warren Scott)

STEUBENVILLE — A small step has been taken in the conversion of Eastern Gateway Community College’s Steubenville campus as a branch of Youngstown State University.

Following their meeting Tuesday, the Jefferson County commissioners announced three former EGCC employees who had remained to monitor and maintain the Steubenville campus are now YSU employees.

The commissioners said the three include a maintenance worker, security guard and information technology specialist whose pay had been covered by the Ohio Department of Education since October.

County Commissioner Eric Timmons said the three had been employed by EGCC prior to the Steubenville campus’ closing on Sept. 30.

In November, the commission approved the transfer of that property to YSU while noting a 57-year-old reverter clause in its deed called for it to be returned to the county’s control should it no longer be used for educational purposes.

The YSU board of trustees agreed to accept the title to the roughly 180,000-square-foot building, its furnishings and equipment and 12.95 acres of the former EGCC campus.

Asked whether any of the 140 faculty members and other staff that had been laid off by EGCC could be rehired also, county Commissioner Jake Kleineke said he couldn’t say for certain.

“My understanding is they want to employ people locally,” he said.