NORWICH – In 2014, Chenango County signed an agreement to lease space at the Eaton Center and officials are now preparing for the contract to enter a new phase in 2024.

The Chenango County Board of Supervisors approved the 30-year lease agreement, mainly to accommodate space for the Chenango County court system.

Terms of the agreement outline a flat fee of $350,000 per year for the first ten years.

After the first ten years, rent will be subject to inflation but capped at the rate of the consumer price index, which is a 3 percent increase, explained RC Woodford, Clerk of the Board.

The amount averages to about $425,000 per year for years 10-20 and the county is in the process of preparing next year's budget.

The move to the Eaton Center was to satisfy requirements of the New York State Unified Court System which mandated the county find additional space the growing number of county, family, and surrogate court cases in the state’s Sixth Judicial District.