Incorporated Town of Polk City v. Gemricher

• Decision Date: 22 January 1919
• Docket Number: 32427
• Citation: 170 N.W. 378,185 Iowa 278
• Parties: INCORPORATED TOWN OF POLK CITY, Appellee, v. R. P. J. GEMRICHER, Appellant
• Court: Iowa Supreme Court

170 N.W. 378

185 Iowa 278

INCORPORATED TOWN OF POLK CITY, Appellee, v. R. P. J. GEMRICHER, Appellant

No. 32427

Supreme Court of Iowa, Des Moines

January 22, 1919

Appeal from Polk District Court.--THOS. J. GUTHRIE, Judge.

SUIT for a mandatory writ to compel defendant to remove an alleged obstruction from one of the principal streets of plaintiff incorporated town. Decree as prayed.

Affirmed.

E. S Schuetz, for appellant.

Mulvaney & Mulvaney, for appellee.

STEVENS J. LADD, C. J., GAYNOR and PRESTON, JJ., concur.

OPINION

STEVENS, J.

Plaintiff alleged in its petition that the defendant has built and maintains platform scales on one of its principal streets for personal profit, and that same is so constructed as to create a nuisance. Defendant, in answer, admitted that he maintained scales in the street, but denied that same create or constitute a nuisance, and averred that he has maintained and operated same with the knowledge and consent of plaintiff, its officers, and agents, and that his right to do so has never been revoked.

Two principal grounds relied upon for reversal are: (a) That plaintiff has a plain and adequate remedy at law; and (b) that no special injury to plaintiff is alleged or proven, and that plaintiff is without authority to maintain a suit in equity to compel the removal of an obstruction from its streets.

Platform scales have apparently been maintained by the defendant and others at the place in question, since about the year 1883. The evidence tends to show that the surface water is obstructed thereby in a way to cause gutters to be washed in the unpaved street, and, at times, to become muddy, and that, in winter, the same causes ice to form on the adjacent sidewalk. It does not appear from the record whether any other consent than that which may be implied from the lapse of time was ever given defendant to erect or maintain the scales in the street; but before suit was commenced, the town council caused a written notice to be served upon him, demanding that he remove the scales within fifteen days.

Section 753 of the Code confides the care, supervision, and control of streets to cities and incorporated towns, and requires that same be kept open, in repair, and free from nuisance. It is not denied by counsel for appellant that plaintiff, acting through its proper officers, had the right to revoke permission, if any was ever granted defendant, to maintain scales upon the street; but, as we understand counsel, it is his contention that the officers of plaintiff should have proceeded summarily to remove the scales, instead of resorting to a suit in equity. We held, in Emerson v. Babcock, 66 Iowa 257, 23 N.W. 656, that:

"The fee title of the streets is in the incorporated town, and no private person has any legal right to erect any structure therein for the purpose of carrying on his private business; and if, having done so, he is required to remove his building or structure, of whatever it may be, from the street, he has no cause of complaint. He is deprived of no right. If the plaintiff was permitted to maintain his scales in the street for a time, the privilege must be regarded as a mere license, which may be terminated at any time, and it is immaterial whether the erection in the street amounts to a nuisance. It is the duty of the town authorities to keep the streets clear and unobstructed, and no person has the right to take and hold possession of any part of the streets for any private purpose."

See, also, Lacy v. City of Oskaloosa, 143 Iowa 704, 121 N.W. 542; and Callahan v. City of Nevada, 170 Iowa 719, 153 N.W. 188.

But conceding the authority of plaintiff, in its corporate capacity, to cause the scales to be removed, is the remedy thus provided exclusive, or may such municipality, by proper proceeding, invoke the aid of a court of equity in causing obstructions to be removed from its streets, and to abate a nuisance existing therein? Counsel for appellant cites and relies upon City of Ottumwa v. Chinn, 75 Iowa 405, 39 N.W. 670; but this case is not in point. The city of Ottumwa sought to enjoin the defendant from maintaining a slaughterhouse at a place within the city, where it was obnoxious to residents in the vicinity thereof, and which, it was charged, was injurious to the health and comfort of the inhabitants of said city. The court held that plaintiff did not have such special interest in the matter complained of as entitled it to maintain a suit to enjoin or abate it as a nuisance. In the case at bar, the evidence shows that the scales tend to create a nuisance in the street, and constitute an obstruction to travel. Section 753, as above stated, requires that cities and incorporated towns keep their streets in repair and free from obstruction. Not only is this true, but such municipalities may be liable for damages caused by obstructions in the streets. It has been generally held that, where the duty of maintaining the streets in repair and free from obstructions is confined to municipalities, they have such interest as entitles them to maintain a suit in equity to enjoin obstructions in the streets, and to abate nuisances therein. City of Waterloo v. Waterloo, C. F. & N. R. Co., 149 Iowa 129, 125 N.W. 819; City of Sioux City v. Simmons Hdw. Co., 151 Iowa 334; Wendt v. Incorporated Town of Akron, 161 Iowa 338, 142 N.W. 1024; City of Waterloo v. Waterloo St. R. Co., 71 Iowa 193, 32 N.W. 329; City of Jordan v. Leonard, 119 Minn. 162 (137 N.W. 740); Town of Burlington v. Schwarzman, 52 Conn. 181; Town of Jamestown v....