The final agreement on a plan to bring 55 administrative jobs from Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital's main campus in Russell, Ky., to the Ironton City Center will not likely happen until after mid-February - it may not happen at all.

The recent change in leadership at OLBH has delayed progress on the plan, according to OLBH Vice President for External Affairs Michael Stautberg.

Former Chief Financial Officer Robert Tyk left in October. His replacement, Walter Yokoboski, was named approximately 6 weeks ago. A permanent successor has not been named yet for former Chief Executive Officer Robert Maher, who announced his resignation in July.

Stautberg said once a new CEO is named, that person, Yokoboski and Bon Secours officials will need

to sit down and study the proposed agreement with the city before making a decision on whether or not to accept the agreement as signed by former Mayor Bob Cleary, require changes before signing it or reject the proposal altogether.

"The agreements were made with people who are no longer in place or in office," Stautberg said. "The new leaders will need to be brought up to speed on the agreement and make sure this is something they are comfortable with. … To be honest, nothing is certain until an agreement is signed. We still have the option of an agreement, but ultimately there is no guarantee until it comes to fruition."

Stautberg said he was still optimistic that an agreement could be signed. City officials remain optimistic as well.

"We're very optimistic about Our Lady of Bellefonte occupying the third floor of the City Center," Mayor John Elam said. "I believe the contract has been signed by the city and we're waiting on good news from representatives of Our Lady of Bellefonte on the final approval of the contract so that we can begin work in preparing the third floor for their occupancy."

Stautberg said grant funding for the agreement has been and continues to be something that gets close attention. Government grants typically tie funding to economic development potential, job creation and other return-on-investment factors.

For example, the Community Development Block Grant requires the hiring of new employees within a certain population track over a 3-year period.

Stautberg said, in this case, hospital brass would want to review current employment levels before agreeing to hire new people.

In addition to CDBG monies, officials have sought funding through the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Huntington-Ironton Empowerment Zone and other government programs.

Stautberg said officials have written confirmation that all grant funding is available for the proposal.

Our of Bellefonte Hospital and city officials announced jointly earlier that the two sides were in negotiations to bring 55 administrative jobs to the third floor of the Ironton City Center. The space that would be occupied would be upgraded with various grants.

Former Mayor Bob Cleary has signed off on the project shortly before Thanksgiving.