EDITOR’S NOTE: The Bricks & Mortar Report provides updates on major construction projects in Chenango County.

Chenango County Public Works Department:
• The Chenango County Highway Department still has three crews out making road repairs, replacing culvert pipes and building bridges more than a year after the region experienced record-breaking floods.
• Department of Public Works Director Randy Gibbon said remediation work could continue through September of 2008.
• Chenango County’s roadways suffered more than $4 million worth of damage. Approximately $850,000 worth of work - some of which has already been completed - is still outstanding from the New York State Emergency Management Association.
• Upcoming projects include replacing the Race Road bridge in Bainbridge, the Ives Road bridge in Coventry, roadwork on county Route 27 in Coventry, and culverts on county Routes 23 and 32.

Employment stats:
• The Chenango County Office of Employment and Training reported a 4.5 percent unemployment rate in September. The figure compares to 4.2 in August and 4.2 percent in September of 2006.
• Last month’s reported unemployment rates in Chenango’s surrounding counties were: Otsego, 3.6; Madison, 4.0; Cortland, 4.1; Broome, 4.1; and Delaware, 4.1.

Hayes Office Supply:
• The owners of this long-standing office supply business on East Main Street in the City of Norwich is refurbishing the top two floors of its three-story building.
• The bottom floor will remain retail. The second floor will become office space. And the third floor is designated for two residential apartments. Each floor is approximately 2,500 square feet.
• “We decided to bring the building back to the way it was more than 60 years ago,” said second generation owner and company President Christopher Hayes.
• An office on the second floor is being renovated and designed to accommodate Sixth District New York Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Garry, who was elected to office a year ago. Members of the Chenango County Agriculture, Buildings & Grounds Committee approved earlier this month the state-reimbursable amount of $51,600 to be appropriated into the county’s buildings and grounds budget for the project.
• Chenango County will lease the new space for Justice Garry at $12 a square foot, or $13,200 a year.
• Hayes said a portion of the costs for renovating the third floor’s interior would be covered by a $50,000 Main Street grant awarded to the Norwich Business Improvement District this year. A separate Main Street grant of $10,000 will be used to make facade improvements. Both grants require a 50 percent match from the company’s owners.

Halfway House Bridge (County Route 32B):
• The pier for a new county Rte. 32B bridge over the Chenango River in the Town of Norwich was recently completed, and concrete for footing abutments has been poured.
• The Chenango County DPW anticipates an August 2008 opening for the bridge, a month ahead of schedule.
• The bridge, which is used by approximately 1,600 cars per day, was closed earlier this month after state inspectors found it to be too dangerous for use.

Norwich City School District building project:
• Construction crews are currently completing water, plumbing, electrical and other foundation infrastructure work at the middle school and high school buildings. Shipments of steel are anticipated on Oct. 30, after which time assembly can begin.
• Some interior work continues during after school hours, but Norwich City Schools District Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan said most has been halted - particularly at the primary schools.
• Lockers will go into the buildings over Christmas vacation.
• Interior work in the district’s buildings will resume this spring. O’Sullivan said he anticipated the gym, library and pool to be completed over the summer.