143 N.W. 778 | S.D. | 1913
Claiming to proceed under the provisions of chapter 134. Laws 1907, as amended by chapter 102, Laws 1909, the Picard of County Commissioners in and for Davison County, made an order establishing a certain drainap;c ditch, and later, the ditch having been constructed, having found that Union township in said county was benefited- thereb}r, such board made an order wherein part of the expense of establishing and constructing such ditch was assessed against such township. Notice of such assessment having been given such township, and the said assessment having been certified to the county treasurer of Davison county for collection, and remaining unpaid, this proceeding was brought in the circuit court, and judgment was rendered for plaintiffs and a peremptory writ issued, commanding- the defendants to make a levy of tax to provide the funds wherewith
Section 2 of the drainage law provides that the county commissioners can act only upon a written petition, which petition “shall set forth * * * a description of the proposed route by its initial and terminal points and its general course, or by its exact course in whole or part.” Section 3 provides for the inspection of the proposed route, and for the surveying of the proposed . drainage, which survey may extend to other lands than those affected by the proposed drainage for the purpose of “determining * * * in part the practicability of the proposed drainage.” Under section 4 the commissioners, after inspecting the proposed route, or after receipt of the surveyor’s report, “shall determine the exact line and ividth of the ditch, if the same shall not be fixed in the petition and shall file their determination with the petition.” They shall then “fix a time and place for .the hearing of said petition and shall give notice thereof by publication * * * and by posting. * * * Such notice shall describe the route of the proposed drainage and the tract of country likely to be affected thereby in general terms,* * * and shall refer to the files in the proceedings for further particulars. Said notice shall summon all persons affected by the proposed drainage to appear at said hearing and show cause why the said drainage should not be established and constructed. * * *” Section 5 provides that: “At such hearing any person interested may appear and contest the statements of the petition and matters set forth in the surveyor’s report and finding of the board as to width and route. The petitioners * * * may be heard in support of the petition. After full hearing the drainage may be established along the line set forth in the petition or in the finding of the board prior to the hearing, or the board may vary the route thereof
The judgment and order appealed from are reversed.