NORWICH – More county funding is on the way to cover cost overruns at the James S. Flanagan History Research Center on 43 Rexford St. in Norwich.

Representatives from the Chenango County Historical Society and the county historian’s office say about $13,800 more is needed to build a handicap accessible ramp between the research center and the adjacent CCHS Museum. The money would also be used to purchase storage racks and furnishings for a library room, the historian’s office and a space for the public.

The ramp and concrete work would fulfill the requirements to obtain a certificate of occupancy, enabling Historian Patricia Evans to begin the enormous task of moving the county’s archives from the basement of the museum in the former ward school to the new new center’s first floor.

Chenango County has already committed $100,000 to the estimated $850,000 multi-year project. Funding has also come from private contributions and foundations. Board of Supervisors Chairman Lawrence Wilcox, R-Oxford, has backed the request, saying, “Ideally this wouldn’t have happened, but cost overruns happen ... especially when you have a four-year building project ... planned 10 or more years out.” Members of the county’s Planning and Economic Development Committee also approved. The matter is scheduled to be taken up by the Finance Committee next week.