Christenson v. Iowa Dist. Court for Polk County, 95-1484

• Decision Date: 18 December 1996
• Docket Number: No. 95-1484,95-1484
• Citation: 557 N.W.2d 259
• Parties: Andrew C. CHRISTENSON and ACCO Unlimited Corporation, Plaintiffs, v. IOWA DISTRICT COURT FOR POLK COUNTY, Defendant.
• Court: Iowa Supreme Court

Page 259

557 N.W.2d 259

Andrew C. CHRISTENSON and ACCO Unlimited Corporation, Plaintiffs, v. IOWA DISTRICT COURT FOR POLK COUNTY, Defendant.

No. 95-1484.

Supreme Court of Iowa.

Dec. 18, 1996.

Frank Murray Smith and Mary G. Hellweg of Frank M. Smith Law Office, Des Moines, for plaintiffs.

Lee H. Gaudineer, Jr. of Austin, Gaudineer, Austin, Salmons, Swanson & Hopkins, Des Moines, for defendant.

Considered by HARRIS, P.J., and CARTER, NEUMAN, SNELL, and ANDREASEN, JJ.

CARTER, Justice.

This original certiorari action concerns the relationship of Iowa Code section 808.14 (1995), the statutory authority for issuing administrative search warrants, and section 314.9, ¹ which sets out procedures governmental entities must follow to enter private land, in advance of condemnation, during the planning stages of road construction. At issue are the actions of the City of Johnston (the City) in entering upon the lands of plaintiff Andrew Christenson. After considering the authorities cited and arguments presented, we conclude that the commands of section 314.9 restrict the City's right of entry and cannot be avoided by obtaining an administrative search warrant. We sustain the writ.

The City of Johnston proposed to build a new road, Northwest 54th Avenue, which would run between Merle Hay Road and Northwest Beaver Drive. The proposed route would cross land then owned by Andrew Christenson and occupied by ACCO Unlimited, Christenson's tenant [hereinafter "Christenson"]. The City received a $2.8 million grant from the United States Department of Commerce, receipt of which was conditioned on completion of environmental testing. Phase I of the required testing examines the history of the parcel. In Phase II, areas of environmental concern disclosed by Phase I are tested for contamination. Geotechnical tests, determining the load-bearing capacity of the terrain, were also necessary. Both tests involve taking narrow borings, backfilling them, and restoring the surface to near-original condition. The Phase I testing of Christenson's parcel revealed "four locations of recognized environmental conditions." No test site was closer than fifty feet to any building on this property. Christenson originally granted permission to conduct these investigations but later withdrew that authorization.

On August 4, 1995, the City applied for an administrative search warrant granting authority to proceed with the boring on Christenson's property. Christenson filed a petition for declaratory ruling, seeking to quash the administrative search warrant and seeking a temporary injunction until the City complied with Iowa Code section 314.9. Christenson argued that the City must give him thirty days written notice by restricted certified mail. In addition, Christenson argued that section 314.9 prohibited testing within twenty rods (330 feet) of any structure without his consent.

On August 28 the district court issued an order requiring the City to give Christenson thirty days' notice. That order allowed boring to proceed during the week of September 25-29 and permitted that activity within twenty rods of any building. Christenson sought review of that order via certiorari and also sought a stay. We granted the petition for certiorari but denied a stay. On September 25, the district court denied Christenson's motion to quash the administrative search warrant. Christenson appealed that order, and we consolidated the appeal with this certiorari action. The agents of the City subsequently removed two soil borings for geotechnical testing and soil samples from two sites of environmental concern: an electrical dump area and a septic tank drain field. The City has subsequently acquired ownership by eminent domain of the land to which its right of entry had been challenged.

We review the district court's order for correction of errors at law. Iowa R.App.P. 4; Farm & City Ins. Co. v. Gilmore, 539 N.W.2d 154, 156 (Iowa 1995) (declaratory judgment); State v. Finnel, 515 N.W.2d 41, 43 (Iowa 1994) (statutory construction); Whitlock v. Iowa Dist. Ct., 497 N.W.2d 891, 893 (Iowa 1993) (certiorari).

Because the City now owns the land involved, the case at first glance appears to be moot. We reach the merits, however, for two reasons. First, Christenson, should his appeal be successful, may have claims against the City for trespass. Second, even if the plaintiffs have no claims against the City, this appeal contains several questions of substantial "public interest" worthy of our present attention. See Southeast Warren Community Sch. Dist. v. Department of Pub. Instruction, 285 N.W.2d 173, 178 (Iowa 1979).

Christenson argues that section 314.9 is the sole means by which governmental entities may enter private land to conduct road construction surveys. He asserts that it is a special statute that prevails over section 808.14, a general statute. The City argues that section 314.9 had no application within the city limits. As an alternative argument, it urges that it may choose to proceed under either section 314.9 or section 808.14. The statute on which Christenson relies read as follows during the time of the City's entry:

The agency in control of any highway or highway system or the engineer, or any authorized person employed by said agency, may after thirty days' written notice by restricted certified mail addressed to the owner and also to the occupant, enter upon private land for the purpose of making surveys, soundings, drillings, appraisals and examinations as it deems appropriate or necessary to determine the advisability or practicability of locating and constructing a highway thereon or for the purpose of determining whether gravel or other material exists on said land of suitable quality and in sufficient quantity to warrant the purpose of condemnation of said land or part thereof. Such entry, after notice, shall not be deemed a trespass, and the agency may be aided by injunction to insure peaceful entry. The agency shall pay actual damages caused by such entry, surveys, soundings, drillings, appraisals or examinations.

Any damage caused by such entry, surveys, soundings, drillings, appraisals or examinations shall be determined by agreement or in the manner provided for an award of damages in condemnation of land for highway purposes. No such soundings or drillings shall be done within twenty rods of the dwelling house or buildings on said land without written consent of the owner.

Iowa Code § 314.9. The statute authorizing administrative warrants provides:

The courts and other appropriate agencies of the judicial branch ... may issue administrative search warrants, in accordance with the statutory and common-law requirements for the issuance of such warrants, to all governmental agencies or bodies expressly or impliedly provided with statutory or constitutional home rule authority or inspections to the extent necessary for the agency or body to carry out such authority.

Iowa Code § 808.14. The district court found that the City was free to use either section. After considering the meaning of section 314.9 and its relationship to section 808.14, we reach a different conclusion.

Ordinarily, statutes are given effect as written. Consolidated Freightways Corp. v. Nicholas, 258 Iowa 115, 120, 137 N.W.2d 900, 904 (1965). However, if the plain meaning would lead to an absurd or unjust result, courts may reexamine the statute to gather whether the legislature intended, for its own reasons, the result thought to be absurd. Iowa Code §§ 4.4(3)-(4), 4.6(1), (5); Consolidated Freightways, 258 Iowa at 120, 137 N.W.2d at 904. If such a result is in fact intended, the statute will be applied according to its terms. Janson v. Fulton, 162 N.W.2d 438, 443 (Iowa 1968). The interpreter first attempts to ascertain the legislature's intent, and then construes the statute to best achieve the legislative ends. Iowa Code § 4.6(1), (5); Garien v. Schneider, 546 N.W.2d 606, 609 (Iowa 1996); State ex rel. Hager v. Iowa Nat'l Mut. Ins. Co., 430 N.W.2d 420, 422 (Iowa 1988). The interpreter may look to prior enactments of the statute for guidance. Kelly v. Brewer, 239 N.W.2d 109, 114 (Iowa 1976).

Christenson asks this court to enforce the statute as written. The district court noted that, as a practical matter, this statute is only meaningful as to road construction in undeveloped areas. That conclusion stems from the practicability of applying the twenty-rod distance restrictions in urban settings. It is clear, however, that principles of practical application do not serve to restrict the scope of a statute to less than that which is provided in the text of the act. Contrary to the City's claims, the statute is not applicable only to the department of transportation. The statute governs "agencies," and in chapter 314 an "agency" is defined as "any governmental body" with jurisdiction "over any road." Iowa Code § 314.13(1) (emphasis added). The terms "street" and "highway" are defined in the Code as interchangeable terms identifying every way or place open to the public for vehicular traffic. Iowa Code §§ 321.1(48), 306.3(10). The latter statute defines these terms for purposes of "any chapter of the Code relating to highways." Cities can exercise jurisdiction over highways as so defined. Id. §§ 306.1, .3. We conclude that in connection with its activities on Christenson's property the City was acting as an "agency" seeking to build a highway within the meaning of section 314.9.

The ancestor of section 314.9 read, in part:

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