47 Minn. 406 | Minn. | 1891
This was an application by the city treasurer of the city of St. Paul to the district court for judgment upon an assessment for local improvements. There were two improvements, done-at the same time, under one order, and included in one contract, at the gross price for both of $1,977, to wit, the grading of a portion of that part of Olive street lying between blocks 4 and 5 in De Bow, Smith, Risque, and Williams’ addition to St. Paul, and the constructing a sewer along Olive street between said blocks. Only the lots on, Olive street were assessed for the sewer. Those on Olive street between those two blocks, some lots on Pennsylvania avenue, which: crosses the head of Olive street nearly at right angles to it, and some-on Pine street, which is a block distant from and nearly parallel to Olive, were assessed for the grading, all at the uniform rate of 64 cents per front foot.
The first objection made to the assessment is based on the fact, that in one proceeding and contract two improvements, one of which does not benefit the property of the objectors, were included. The-propositions are made, in support of this objection, that the amount assessed cannot legally exceed the cost of doing the work plus the cost of making the assessment, and that the cost of doing the work must in all cases be determined by the contract price. It is undoubtedly true, and according to the spirit of the charter, that the amount to be assessed is to be arrived at by adding the cost of the work and the cost of making the assessment; and if it be true that the cost of doing the work can be ascertained only by the contract price, then two improvements, either of which does not benefit all the property to be assessed for the other, cannot be included in the same contract at a gross price for both, for in such case the gross price would not
The second objection made on the argument is that a case of mistake, fraud, or prejudice in making the assessment is shown. The parties defending against the assessments are the owners of lots-on Pennsylvania avenue and on Pine street, such lots being assessed only for the grading; and they say that assessing the lots fronting on those two streets at the same rate per front foot as the lots fronting on Olive street, the street graded, must have been the result of mistake of fact, or of such fraud or prejudice as should avoid the assessment. In State v. Board of Public Works, 27 Minn. 442, (8 N. W. Rep. 161,) it was held that the decision of the board of public works as to what property is benefited, and to what extent, by a lo-eal improvement, is conclusive and cannot be reviewed, unless shown to be fraudulent in fact, or unless it is made up upon a demonstrable mistake of fact. In State v. District Court of Ramsey County, 33 Minn. 164, (22 N. W. Rep. 295,) it was suggested that, if the board acted upon an illegal principle of assessment, it would vitiate the assessment. And this must be so. Should the board act on the assumption that they might assess all lots benefited at a uniform rate, without regard to the-differences in benefits conferred, it would be acting on an illegal principle of assessment; and although there might be no mistake of fact, and the board acted in good faith, yet the assessment could hardly stand. It might not be the result of a fraud in fact, but it would operate as a fraud. Should the board assess lots shown beyond question not to be benefited, so that the-matter could not be one of judgment or difference of opinion, the inevitable inference would be that they had acted either under a mistake of fact, or from fraud, or upon an illegal principle of assessment; and,
In addition to the objection first herein considered, the written objections filed in the court below contain only the objection that the property of the objectors is in no way benefited by the improvement, “and that said assessment was made by said board of public-works under a mistake of fact.” The respondent thereupon insists that this limits the objection to a mistake of fact, and that under it-the property owners must show so that the court may find that there was a mistake of fact, and as to what fact the board made the mistake. The charter (section 39, c. 7, Sp. Laws 1887, p. 349,) provides'that the owner objecting to the assessment “shall file in said court his objections in writing to the recovery of judgment against-such property, and shall serve a copy thereof upon the corporation attorney, at least five days prior to the time designated in the city treasurer’s notice.” It then limits the objections that may be so-made, to any of the proceedings prior to the confirmation of the assessment. This, however, must be read in connection with section 54, (p. 354,) which clearly indicates that other matters than such as-are mentioned in section 39 may be the subject of inquiry by the-court, and consequently may be specified in the written objections. In section 39, following what we have quoted, is the clause, “the-court shall hear and determine all objections in a summary manner, without pleadings.” The written objections must show what is to be-tried. While it is evident that the objections are not to be judged by the rules applicable to pleadings in civil actions, it is equally clear they must state on what ground the assessment is claimed to-be invalid. There is no middle course between holding that and.
Judgment affirmed.