Harrison County commissioners reject proposal to close Brushy Fork Road
The Harrison County Commissioners voted against closing a portion of Brushy Fork Road after two residents voiced their opinions at the last board meeting.
JD Long
Board cites safety concerns, fire access and public trail use in unanimous vote to keep County Road 1 open.
Harrison County commissioners Aug. 20 unanimously denied a petition from the county engineer’s office to vacate a section of Harrison County Road 1, also known as Brushy Fork Road.
Resolution 32-25 had called for closing about 1.18 miles of the road, stretching 6,230 feet near the intersection of Nottingham Township Road, also known as Elk Run Road.
In a Feb. 3 letter to commissioners, County Engineer Del George argued the vacation would not landlock any parcels, would eliminate a dead-end road, and would benefit county operations.
But residents John Jones and Randy Cunningham opposed the closure. Jones said the road provides access to public hunting grounds, water in case of fire, and nearby property, and is necessary for ambulances. “As a taxpayer I object to it being closed,” he told the board.
Cunningham asked commissioners to table the issue, noting the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District owns the adjacent property. He said MWCD should be consulted, though Commissioner Dustin Corder noted the district did not attend an on-site meeting despite receiving notice.
Commissioner Amy Norris said safety and public access concerns outweighed any benefit of closing the road. “It is a fire lane if there is a brush fire down there,” she said. “It was also brought to our attention that there is a public trail, which begins right there. So for fire lane, safety, for public access, I am going to vote for it not to be vacated.”
The board then voted 3-0 to deny the petition. “County Road 1 will not be vacated,” Corder said.
