So you’re putting in an exact replacement? Why exactly does the neighbor object to that?
More...
He put up a gate a few months ago. We went downtown, was told that he couldn’t do it, warned him thusly, and he took it down (mostly). Later we discover that he wants to pave the easement, put in a ditch on both sides (?), and reinstall the gate and give us a key. Meantime, the old fence, which is completely on our property, but also covered by the easement, gave him an opportunity (we believe) to apply pressure for all of the above. We just want to be left the hell alone.