Ross Gallabrese DISCUSSION — Mike Gill, board chairman of the Jefferson County Port Authority, left, and Robert Naylor, the executive director, look on during Thursday's meeting.

STEUBENVILLE — Working together remains the key to ensuring economic development throughout the area, county officials said Thursday afternoon.

“I think that always having the opportunity to have collaboration between the county and the city as to forward-looking development is what the goal is, and that’s what I think was one of the biggest takeaways here,” explained Robert Naylor, executive director of the Jefferson County Port Authority.

He was speaking after a special meeting held in the community room of the Jefferson County Tower. It had been called by the port authority’s board of directors after the county commissioners had requested a meeting to present a plan for collaboration about development of property located at the northeast corner of the former Eastern Gateway Community College.

The meeting included representatives from the county and Steubenville.

There has been a lot of speculation about the future of that 4.5-acre parcel, which sits near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and John Scott Highway, since the county assumed control of all of the property that the old community college had sat on. A reverter clause in the former community college’s deed stipulated that the land had to be returned to the county’s control if it was no longer being used for educational purposes.

The Youngstown State University board of trustees agreed to accept title to the roughly 180,000-square-foot building, its furnishings and equipment and 12.95 acres on the former campus, which left the area that had been a parking lot at the school, as well as property that stretches along John Scott Highway to the area of the Applebee’s restaurant, under the control of the county commissioners.

School officials have been working since the first of the year to remodel the building and rebrand it as Youngstown State University Steubenville, and plan to begin offering classes during the fall semester, A community open house at facility has been scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25.

While no action was taken after an executive session during Thursday’s meeting, officials said bringing all sides together was important.

“Collaboration is important,” county Commissioner Tony Morelli said. “There’s a piece of property there — people want to get it developed, and we want to get it developed. That’s why port authorities were made — for tax advantages and many other things. It’s a positive thing for the community.”

A key to opening that property to development is the extension of a city sewer line. County and city officials already have had discussions about that project.

“We’re working closely with Robert and the county commissioners,” City Manager Mike Johnson said. “We’re going to try to collaborate with the county on the design and build of the first step of this project, which is that sewer line.”

Developers already have expressed interest in that corner, officials have said.

“If we can develop that, it would be a big plus for the area,” Johnson added.