Smith v. Hofeldt
Smith v. Hofeldt
Opinion of the Court
This case was argued and submitted upon a rehearing. The opinion reversing the decree of the district court was filed June 7, 1907, and is reported in 79 Neb. 276. The facts and issues involved are stated in that opinion and need not be restated here. The action was for an injunction restraining the officers of the village of Dundee and the proper officers of the county from enforcing a tax levied upon certain lots to defray the expenses of grading the sidewalk space and constructing the sidewalk thereon. The result of the trial in the district court was a decree enjoining the tax for grading the sidewalk space, but dismissing the suit as to the cost of the construction of the
Upon further investigation we are of the opinion that the decree of the district court, holding the tax to the extent of the cost of the construction of the sidewalk to be a valid lien upon the lots in front of which the sidewalks Avere severally constructed, was correct, and that, to that extent, our former holding should be modified. The ordinance under Avhich the trustees ordered the construction of the sideAvalk required that, if the owner of the lot in front of which the sideAvalk avus to be constructed was known and a resident of the village of Dundee, a personal notice should be served upon him or left at his residence 15 days before the construction of the walk, and that, if the walk Avas not constructed within the time named, the village contractor should do the work. In case the resi
It follows that the part of our former judgment making the injunction restraining the collection of the sidewalk
Judgment accordingly.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I am not inclined to recede from the position taken in the former opinion. The ordinances required that, upon the passage and publication of an ordinance ordering the construction or repair of any sidewalk, it should be the duty of the overseer of the streets to serve upon the owner of the abutting premises, “if such owner is known and is a resident of the village of Dundee,” a notice, stating that, after the expiration of 15 days from the service of such a notice, the sidewalk ordered to be constructed, unless previously constructed by the owner according to specification required by the ordinance, will be constructed by the contractor having the contract for that class of work, and that the cost thereof will be assessed upon the property described. Section 10 provides for service of notice at the usual place of residence, “providing that, whenever any owner or owners of any such property are not known or have no fixed place of residence, service of such notice may be made by publication at least once in some newspaper of general circulation in Douglas county, Nebraska. An affidavit of service of publication of each of said notices with a copy thereof shall forthwith be made and filed with the village clerk and by him be preserved.” Section 11 makes it the duty of every owner to construct the sidewalk within 15 days from the publication of the notice. Section 12 provides that, if, after 15 days from the publication of the notice,, the owner shall fail, neglect or refuse to repair or construct the same, the overseer of streets shall cause same to be constructed. Ordinance 55 of the village specifically directed permanent sidewalks of artificial stone to be constructed in front of plaintiffs’ property within 15 days from the publication of the notice, upon the failure of the owner to construct the same.
The evidence further shows that the street itself was not “permanently improved” at the time this order was made, the grading in the roadway being only partially done at this time. It is only upon streets which are permanently improved that the village authorities are authorized to require the construction of a permanent sidewalk. Neither sidewalk space nor roadway being graded so that the street was permanently improved at that time, the notice was prematurely given, and the board was without power to assess the cost of the walk to the owner.
I think the former opinion should be adhered to.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Charles M. Smith v. Peter G. Hofeldt
- Status
- Published