A public right of way, running from Mill Street to South West Street, has been in use over 100 years, being the original access to the flour mill, power plant, rodeo arena and a town water main. So, when the Town Board installed an electrical pedestal on the right of way to power block party stages, it came as a surprise when the point of public access ended up being gated, called private, then powered from the new installation.

An electrical contractor received payment for work. But the trench was dug by the landowner with an understanding to be able to close public access, even though access had been established through 100 years of use with different easements recorded over time.

Public access seems permanently denied; a gate requiring a code to open is now in place. A quid pro quo agreement allowed closure of the driveway because of the construction despite the driveway having been in continuous use up to that point.

That homeowner appears to have gotten a free $1,400 utility installation to eliminate that long-used public access with the Town of Bayfield paying for it.

And there was no written agreement before the process was even started. So, the Town Board will soon be considering a resolution to justify its theft of the public commons.

This is outrageous and the resolution should be opposed and denied. We all enjoy block parties but long-held public access shouldn’t disappear to accommodate them.

David Black

Bayfield