MOUNT VERNON — The vacation of Bruce Street, a 300-foot stretch of undeveloped lane which runs between Burgess Drive and Proper Road, just east of Ohio 3, was approved Monday by the Knox County Board of Commissioners. The commissioners, along with Knox County Engineer Jim Henry, traveled to the site Monday morning to get a first-hand view of the proposed vacation.
According to Commissioner Allen Stockberger, Bruce Street was platted many decades ago but never developed or used by the county. The strip of land sits between the property of two land owners, Perry Brokaw and Dan Smith, who have been maintaining the property for many years. Brokaw stated he has, at numerous times, seen people riding down this strip of land on four-wheelers, as the north edge along Burgess Drive allows a nice cut in for the street and a convenient jaunt down the hill toward Proper Road. Brokaw added he would like to be able to install a gate or cable at the top of the hill which could be unhooked in the event of a flood to allow an escape up to Burgess Drive.
