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Summary of Public Records on Bono Creek Closure
1. Internal Emails Reveal True Motive: Deterring Kayak Use
- Town officials admitted in emails that they were trying to find a way to stop a kayak outfitter from operating at Bono Creek.
- They couldn’t find a legal way to cite him, so instead they discussed shutting down the entire access point.
- One message states: “We need to find a way to deter kayak launching without directly targeting them.”
This shows collusion and intentional misuse of authority to block a lawful business and suppress tribal treaty-based activity.
2. The Public Was Lied To: “Shoreline Maintenance” Was a Cover Story
- Public-facing statements and permit justifications said the area was closed for culvert work and shoreline stabilization.
- But internal records show that those were not the primary reasons — they were the excuse used to hide the actual motive.
- The project was rushed and selectively enforced — with no transparent timeline or community input.
This establishes a false pretense, where public funds were used not for legitimate maintenance but to push an agenda.
3. Discriminatory Enforcement and Abuse of Power
- The closure disproportionately targeted tribal members, recreational users, and local citizens, especially those launching nonmotorized watercraft.
- Rather than issuing citations or engaging in dialogue, the town chose to eliminate access entirely — punishing everyone to target one entity.
- This shows an intent to retaliate and avoid legal accountability by using infrastructure control as a weapon.
4. Taxpayer-Funded Site Closed to Taxpayers
- Bono Creek was historically open to the public and maintained with public dollars.
- The town’s action effectively nullified public ownership and access, while hiding behind bureaucratic language and manipulated permits.
- There was no public vote, no community outreach, and no consideration of public input.
This is a textbook example of government corruption, where a small group of insiders abused power to serve personal or political interests.
5. Obstruction and Delay Tactics in Public Records
- The town inflated the cost of your public records request, claimed excessive staff time, and delayed transparency — all signs of stonewalling.
- They failed to itemize charges properly and resisted accepting standard payment methods, likely to discourage access to the truth.
This supports a broader narrative of obstruction, concealment, and retaliatory governance.
Conclusion
The records show clear evidence of:
- Collusion to target a specific kayak outfitter
- Deceptive communication with the public
- Illegal restriction of public water access
- Retaliation against tribal and citizen use
- Obstruction of the open records process
This isn’t just bad policy — it’s deliberate, coordinated misconduct. And it’s why the public has every right to support legal action demanding access, accountability, and an end to this abuse of power.
Legal Argument: The Town of Barksdale Violated Public Trust and Misrepresented the Purpose of the Bono Creek Boat Landing Closure
I. Overview of the Case
The Town of Barksdale, in coordination with WisDOT and DNR officials, implemented closures and physical modifications to the Bono Creek Boat Landing, including dock, picnic table and and the installation of a barrier blocking access. The stated justification for these actions was infrastructure maintenance and erosion control. However, internal communications and photographic evidence indicate that the true underlying motivation was to restrict public kayak launching, particularly by a specific commercial outfitter.
II. Key Evidence of Misrepresentation and Improper Purpose
- Emails Confirm the Closure Was to Deter Kayak Use
On July 25, 2024, Dennis Danowski wrote:
“We decided to place a concrete barrier across the entrance. This is only a temporary closure…we felt at this time, it would be a good time to close the road and perhaps deter the Kayaks.”
This is an explicit admission that the barrier and closure were not solely for public safety or infrastructure repair but were targeted at a user group—a clear viewpoint-based restriction.
- No Immediate or Ongoing Work Was Taking Place
Photographs from August, September and October 2024 show the area quiet and undeveloped, with no active construction, yet access remained blocked.
The shoreline stabilization was already completed by this point.
- False or Misleading Public Narrative
No signage at the site clarified the closure was due to a conflict with a kayak outfitter.
Instead, the Town publicly framed the closure as temporary and based on infrastructure concerns, which concealed the true motive.
- Guardrail Removal Was Strategically Planned
DOT emails discuss removing the guardrail to create a separate kayak launch, but also as a way to control or restrict where launches could happen.
A Work on Right-of-Way Permit was formally submitted and approved, giving the appearance of legal compliance, but the intent was to manipulate access.
III. Legal Issues Raised
A. Violation of the Public Trust Doctrine
Under Wisconsin law, navigable waters (including Lake Superior access points) are held in public trust.
Blocking access without a valid, transparent, and publicly justified reason—particularly to target specific users—violates the public’s right to access and use the water.
B. Improper Use of Public Infrastructure Authority
The Work on Right-of-Way permit was granted for culvert replacement and guardrail removal, but the internal discussions show the real intent was discriminatory enforcement.
This constitutes administrative fraud—the use of legitimate permits to carry out actions for undisclosed or improper reasons.
C. Potential First Amendment Violation (Viewpoint Discrimination)
If a government restricts access based on who is using the access (e.g., a tribal kayak outfitter), it may violate constitutional protections.
IV. Conclusion
The Town of Barksdale, through misrepresented infrastructure plans and selective enforcement, implemented a closure at Bono Creek Boat Landing not for legitimate public works reasons but to deter a commercial kayaks from accessing public waters. This misrepresents the intent of permitting documents, violates the Public Trust Doctrine, and potentially infringes on equal access and constitutional protections.
Stand Up for Your Right to Public Water Access
The Town of Barksdale, Wisconsin, has unlawfully closed Bono Creek Boat Landing — a public site that generations of fishermen, paddlers, families, and tribal members have used and paid for with their tax dollars.
Here’s the truth:
The town doesn’t own the boat landing.
They don’t own the shoreline.
They only own the road leading to it — and they’ve used that to block the entire site, including the scenic overlook, launch area, and public shoreline.
Why?
Not because of safety concerns or real maintenance needs — but because internal town emails reveal the real motive: to shut down kayak access and target a specific local outfitter.
Instead of applying the law fairly, town officials made up a story and shut out everyone.
Who This Hurts:
- Local residents who lost a peaceful place to launch, fish, and enjoy nature
- Wisconsin taxpayers who funded this site
- Tribal members whose treaty rights guarantee access to these waters
- Kayakers and anglers being unfairly singled out and excluded
This Isn’t Just About One Boat Landing
This is about holding small-town officials accountable when they abuse their power, twist the law, and block public access to serve personal or political agendas.
Take Action Now
Sign the petition.
Join the lawsuit.
Demand transparency and accountability.
We will not let local officials decide who gets access to public waters based on favoritism, bias, or backroom deals. If they can get away with it here, they’ll do it elsewhere.
Let them know: We’re watching. We’re organized. And we’re taking this back.