STEUBENVILLE — On Tuesday, Steubenville Council heard from developers interested in building a Dollar General store at the city’s south end and received an update from a Jefferson County Commissioner on the future of the Eastern Gateway Community College campus.

Tony Morelli, president of the county commission, told council Chik fil A had expressed interest in a portion of the campus property he and the fellow commissioners hope to obtain for economic development.

On Monday, the commissioners announced a tentative agreement with officials of the former college and Youngstown State University that could result in YSU moving into the college’s main building and the county obtaining other property there.

Morelli told council that property is comprised primarily of the large parking lot used for truck driving classes but also could include green space between it and Applebee’s.

He said the agreement and the transfer of property to the county could occur by late September.

“I feel very good about it, but until we get a signature on it, I never want to jump the gun,” said Morelli.

He said the agreement, if approved, would include the reverter clause, adopted in 1968, that called for the college property to be retained by the county should it no longer be used for education.

“It’s great for economic development,” Morelli said of the pending agreement, while adding he’s also thankful that a four-year college has expressed interest in occupying the college campus, which has been closed since Oct. 31.

In other business, council members and city officials asked questions of Austin Weinman and Chris McCune, chief operating officers of Penntex Ventures, the Pittsburgh-based developer interested in building a Dollar General store on the former Grant School lot on South Fourth Street.

The meeting was arranged by 2nd Ward Councilman Tracy McManamon as part of council’s economic development committee meeting prior to Tuesday’s regular meeting.

The two reprsentatives of Penntex Ventures said they have built more than 250 stores for the retail chain and pending the lot’s transfer to them, expect to lease it to the present store.

First Ward Councilman Dave Albaugh, who lives in the ward where it would be built, asked whether it would be one of the chain’s Dollar General Markets, which sell fresh produce and meat, and whether the store’s facade could be made more aesthetically pleasing.

Sixth Ward Councilman Mike Hernon noted the main location of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County in recent years has undergone major renovations while nearby local churches reflect their historic origins.

Weinman said the chain will decide whether it will be a Dollar General Market, but they will have some input into the building’s design, with cost being a consideration.

Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo asked about the type of food that would be sold at a Dollar General Store and was told the standard Dollar General Store doesn’t sell produce but does include a frozen food section.

Mayo said there have been complaints about high grass and trash outside another dollar store in the city, and he and others are concerned about that.

Weinman said in the last two years, more focus has been placed on maintenance of the stores’ properties.

“We hear it, we understand it, and we’re pushing for it, too,” he said.

Mayo questioned whether the city may transfer the property to the developer at no cost to them.

City officials have implied such a move would make the property, said to require hundreds of thousands for remediation, more attractive to the developer.

“I think we need more than nothing to get something we don’t really need,” said Mayo.

Fifth Ward Councilman Ted Gorman asked the average rent paid by the Dollar General Stores for their property and was told $120,000 to $150,000 per year.

Hernon thanked the developers for their interest in making a major investment in the city but added council wants to be sure of a long-term commitment.

Weinman said the average initial term for a lease is 15 years, with the leasee given “five-year options” for renewal.

McManamon asked what would happen if the business closed.

McCune replied, “We haven’t had that happen in any of our developments.”

During their regular meeting, council heard from two residents who are opposed to the store.

Resident Mark Gregory told council he lives “in a food desert” but wants a store that would sell fresh produce and meat.

“I’m not worried about what the building looks like. I’m worried about what’s in it,” he said.

Laura Sirilla, a resident of the LaBelle area, said she is the mother of nine and other stores offer better prices that fit her budget.

She said many have been working to restore the historic character of downtown Steubenville and the new store is not likely to look much different than the chain’s other locations.

Sirilla added the concerns of the owners of downtown buildings should take priority over those of renters, who she said tend to be more transient.

In response, Mayor Jerry Barilla said he’s attempted to attract larger grocery chains to the downtown area without luck.

He said as a teacher at the former Grant School, he came to understand the challenges faced by many lower-income residents of the south end.

Barilla said his desire is to provide a source of food closer to the homes of those residents, some of whom lack automobiles.

He said he’s received letters of support for the store from representatives of the local school board, health department, library, a local church and the Ohio Valley Health Center.

Barilla said there are 20 empty storefronts in the 100 block of North Fourth Street and 10 vacant floors in a bank building downtown that could be addressed by those seeking to preserve the city’s history.

“Where’s the effort there?” he asked.