NORWICH – The county won’t wait for cost estimates to renovate the 103-year old jail on West Park Place before putting the available space to use.

Upon the recommendation of Chenango County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard B. Decker, members of the Agriculture, Buildings & Grounds Committee agreed on Tuesday to allow the Department of Social Services to move its intake and family counseling units over to the jail’s former dormitory and visitation areas. Decker said DSS would pick up the cost for moving cubicles and office equipment, as well as pay for maintenance.

Committee Chairman Robert D. Briggs, R-Afton, said utilizing the building is “a good idea,” but pointed out that the furnace needs replacing. “When the cold weather comes, that’s going to be our only question.”

Town of Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown said the county would need to replace the furnace whether the building is used or renovated. “We’re going to buy one one way or another. ... We should be using the building if it’s there,” he said. “We have the money for it.”

Decker said the county “in all probability won’t walk away from” the former Sheriff’s Department building. The space would be used for storage and/or offices in the future with the hope of moving the handful of county departments that lease at off-site locations, such as the Eaton Center, back within county-owned buildings, he said.