By Dawn De Busk
Staff Writer

NAPLES — The Cumberland Country Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 7 served an eviction notice to the tenant living at Kent’s Landing — which is now owned by the town, according to Naples Town Manager Derik Goodine.

Kenneth Burnham Sr. has a deadline of Feb. 6 to vacate the premises, where he has been residing since approximately 2006. He owns the trailer in which he was living; and it is Burnham’s responsibility to remove the trailer from the property, Goodine said. Kent’s Landing, which has waterfront access to Long Lake, is adjacent to the Naples Town Beach.

As the new property owner of Kent’s Landing, the town has public-supported plans for the parcel. However, just because the property is town-owned does not mean it is “open to the public” just yet, according to Goodine.

The newly-acquired parcel will most likely be fenced off during the Naples Winter Carnival, which is scheduled to run Feb. 11 through 13, Goodine said.

“I am going to try to set up fencing between there (the ramp) and Kent’s Landing if I can get the darn stakes in the frozen ground,” he said, adding a few more feet of snow would help hold up the poles for the temporary fencing.

In preparation for the winter carnival, a ramp will be put in place at the end of the beach road, allowing easy access onto the ice, Goodine said. Signage will make it clear to ice-fishing enthusiasts where driving is permissible. The idea is to deter motorized traffic from traveling on areas that have undergone renovations, he said.

Future plans for Kent’s Landing include incorporating the land into the town beach. This fall, construction began on a bathroom facility with changing rooms. The structure is located on the Naples Town Beach parcel. Landscaping will be finished this spring, according to Goodine.

The real estate sale took place in late 2010. During a mid-December meeting, selectmen made clear their choice to evict Burnham rather than negotiate a lease agreement with him. Board members cited the requests of residents as the primary reason to support the eviction.