Planning and review for the Chenango County building project remain on track. (Photo by Kelli Miller)

NORWICH — Planning and review for the Chenango County 5 Court Street Campus Construction Project remain on track, with the public bid process scheduled for December and a county building vote in January.

The Chenango County building project is a proposed redevelopment plan to replace the outdated 1960s and '70s wings of the county office building with a modern, fully accessible facility.

According to the Oct. 20 Agriculture, Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting minutes, Chenango County Clerk of the Board Sheri Howe said the focus is to stay on track with the bid process and project start date, with the board set to hold a bid review in December.

Howe said the project bids would be back Dec. 22, and the bid opening will be held at 1 p.m. in the county board room. The public is invited to attend.

Once reviewed, the bids will be certified and taken to the joint Agriculture, Buildings and Grounds and Finance Committee for review at 10 a.m. Dec. 28 in the county board room.

An organizational meeting will be held Jan. 4 at 10:30 a.m., followed by a special meeting at 11:30 a.m. for a public hearing on the bond resolution. Engineers and the construction team will be available for a question-and-answer session on the building project.

She said the intention behind the meetings is to accept and award the bids and move them on to the board for a resolution Jan. 11.

"Only the full board can accept the bids," Howe said.

Officials aim to put the project to a vote with hopes of breaking ground in 2027 and completing construction over a two-year period.

The vote for the county building project will be during the Chenango County Board of Supervisors meeting at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 11, in the board room at the Chenango County Building.

Howe also noted the geological survey study cost came back higher than expected. The county was billed for an extra day of work, totaling almost $15,000 more than the original agreement, which had included the possibility of additional workdays.

The plan involves constructing a new headquarters in front of the existing facility before demolishing the old structure.

The project carries a cost of nearly $37 million and is supported in part by social services administrative reimbursements to limit direct local property tax impact.

Board Chair Jeffrey Blanchard previously noted a substantial contingency fund was included in the initial estimate for the project.

Building department relocations will be discussed in the next building project meetings.