Water Main Extension & Undergrounding the Power Lines
By Ragnar Oelsner · June 26, 2026
Centre Island Road, where the lines would run underground and a gravel path could follow.
Two related infrastructure questions that could reshape daily life on the island - extending the water main and burying the electrical lines, with the possibility of a small gravel path along the way. Here is the case for, the case against, and how I would propose we decide.
The Case For
The case for taking this on:
Fewer outages — burying the electrical lines would dramatically reduce the power failures we suffer when trees come down in storms.
A more beautiful village — undergrounding the wires would noticeably improve how the island looks.
Reliable water — extending the water main would let residents whose wells have failed, or whose water quality is poor, tap into the public water system.
Lower insurance and legal costs — adding hydrants would reduce our fire-insurance costs, and reduce the litigation and expense tied to the Bayville Fire Company that we already pay taxes for.
A bonus path — done right, the work could leave behind a small gravel shoulder path that also improves drainage - a place to walk to Village Hall, exercise, and get to know neighbors.
The Case Against
The concerns to weigh honestly:
Cost — this is expensive, and that is the biggest hurdle. A mitigant: there are federal and state funding programs that could let us pursue much of this for a nominal local expense.
Public access — some residents may not want a pedestrian walkway running from the island's entrance all the way down Centre Island Road, for fear it invites public access we would rather avoid. A mitigant: keep any gravel path limited - for example, just the stretch near Village Hall - so residents can walk that short quarter to meetings or for exercise, without opening up the whole island.
