| 1. Presumption of abandonment. It is prima facie evidence |
that a town or county way not kept passable for the use of |
motor vehicles at the expense of the municipality or county |
for a period of 30 or more consecutive years has been |
discontinued by abandonment. A presumption of abandonment may |
be rebutted by evidence that manifests a clear intent by the |
municipality or county and the public to consider or use the |
way as if it were a public way. A proceeding to discontinue a |
town or county way may not prevent or estop a municipality |
from asserting a presumption of abandonment. A municipality |
or its officials are not liable for nonperformance of a legal |
duty with respect to such ways if there has been a good faith |
reliance on a presumption of abandonment. Any person affected |
by a presumption of abandonment, including the State or a |
municipality, may seek declaratory relief to finally resolve |
the status of such ways. A way that has been abandoned under |
this section is relegated to the same status as it would have |
had after a discontinuance pursuant to section 3026, except |
that this status is at all times subject to an affirmative |
vote of the legislative body of the municipality within which |
the way lies making that way an easement for recreational use. |
A presumption of abandonment is not rebutted by evidence that |
shows isolated acts of maintenance, unless other evidence |
exists that shows a clear intent by the municipality or county |
to consider or use the way as if it were a public way. |