NORWICH – The West Park Place Office project got off the ground Monday with a unanimous vote to separate the former Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and Jail building into two and proceed with renovating the exteriors and a limited amount of the interiors.
The initial funding of the estimated $2.3 million project will come from a jail repairs account and unnappropriated surplus. County leaders hope to partner with the Department of Social Services or another entity from within the county’s structure to gain state and/or federal funding for the remaining interior work.
Town of Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown said the decision to proceed with the project was “a major undertaking” by members of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. “We decided to take our lead from what the City of Norwich has done with its recent renovations of old buildings. We wanted to keep with the same downtown theme as the two railroad stations, the police and fire station,” he said.
Prior to the vote, Town of Plymouth Supervisor Jerry L. Kreiner asked whether a partner had been pinpointed and whether the county’s courts could be depended on for financial assistance.
“Is the space suitable for the court system?” he asked.
Chenango County Clerk of the Board R.C. Woodford said the Sixth Judicial District court system was “open” to considering the space. “Given what we’ve seen with Social Services, we do feel positive about going in that direction, too. But all options are still open,” he said. A division of Social Services currently occupies the historic jail house.
County Board Chairman Richard B. Decker said he thought the courts agreement with the county was for maintenance expenses only.
Town of Afton Supervisor Robert D. Briggs said the county shouldn’t depend on the court system. “We are past the stage where we can depend on them for financial assistance. I wouldn’t hook my star on anything they told us,” he said.