Reynolds Construction Co. v. County of Twin Falls

437 P.2d 14, 92 Idaho 61, 1968 Ida. LEXIS 246
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 6, 1968
Docket10075
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 437 P.2d 14 (Reynolds Construction Co. v. County of Twin Falls) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Reynolds Construction Co. v. County of Twin Falls, 437 P.2d 14, 92 Idaho 61, 1968 Ida. LEXIS 246 (Idaho 1968).

Opinion

McFADDEN, Justice.

The plaintiffs, hereinafter referred to as appellants, are either corporations, partnerships, or individuals, all having businesses in Twin Falls County, Idaho, and all are real property owners therein. The defendants, hereinafter referred to as respondents, consist of the county of Twin Falls, a political subdivision of the state, and the members of the board of county commissioners of that county.

This action was instituted by appellants seeking injunctive relief, both temporary and permanent, to restrain construction by respondent county of a building designated as a “courthouse annex.” The complaint also sought a judgment declaring that the actions of respondent county commissioners in authorizing the construction of the courthouse annex and the expenditure of funds in the manner alleged were illegal. The trial court entered its findings of fact and conclusions of law in favor of respondents and entered judgment denying relief to appellants, from which judgment this appeal was perfected.

In brief, the facts leading to this litigation are as follows: During the 1967 session of the Idaho Legislature, an additional district judge was authorized for the fifth judicial district of this state, with resident chambers in Twin Falls County. S.L.1967, Ch. 51, § 1, p. 95; I.C. § 1-806. Sec. 3 of the act provided: “This act shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 1967.” It was approved on March 1, 1967.

The senior district judge of what was then the eleventh judicial district discussed *63 with respondent commissioners the need for accommodations for the new district judge to be appointed to serve in Twin Falls County. By letter dated April 19, 1967, addressed to respondent commissioners, the judge referred to the necessity of having a court reporter for the new judge (I.C. § 1-1101) and called their attention to the provisions of I.C. § 1-1613, which provides:

“If suitable rooms for holding district courts and the chambers of the judges of such courts be not provided in any county by the commissioners thereof, together with attendants, furniture, fuel, lights and stationery sufficient for the transaction of business, the court may direct the sheriff of such county to provide such rooms, attendants, furniture, fuel, lights and stationery, and the expenses thereof are a charge against such county.”

April 25, 1967, respondent commissioners adopted the following:

“DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY
“The undersigned Commissioners of the County of Twin Falls, State of Idaho, hereby declare on the 25th day of April, 1967, that an emergency exists. Said declaration is made pursuant to Section 67-2305 of the Idaho Code. The reasons for the declaration of emergency are as follows:
1. That in the opinion of the Commissioners of the County of Twin Falls, State of Idaho, contract prices, if construction of a judicial annex to the Twin Falls County Court House were put up for bids would be unreasonable on account of labor and material price.
2. That pursuant to House Bill No. 68 of the 1967 Legislature, of the State of Idaho, has provided for an additional district judge with resident chambers at Twin Falls, Idaho, and that facilities must be provided on or before July 1, 1967, when said Judge shall take office. That if the construction of said building were done on the basis of bids of general contractors, it would be practically June of 1967, or later before construction could begin.

For the above and foregoing reasons, a state of emergency is hereby declared relative to the provision of facilities for an additional district judge, in and for the County of Twin Falls, and for that reason it is hereby determined that work shall begin immediately with day labor to be hired by the County of Twin Falls, State of Idaho, and that bids for materials and labor for electrical, mechanical, plumbing and other technical service shall be made after submission of bids and to the lowest responsible bidder.”

Respondent commissioners also adopted the following resolution:

“Commissioner Carlson made the motion seconded by Commissioner Chancey that the following resolution be adopted.
WHEREAS a condition exists concerning the providing of necessary accomodations for an additional District Judge which calls for immediate action.
WHEREAS that pursuant to House Bill No. 68 passed by the 1967 Legislature and approved by the Governor, the Fourth Judicial District and the Eleventh Judicial District become consolidated into the new Fifth Judicial District, requiring two judges to have resident chambers at Twin Falls, Idaho.
WHEREAS there is an emergency existing concerning this problem which was unforeseen by the Board of County Commissioners at the time of drawing up the budget, and there is need for an additional $140,000.00 to meet such emergency.
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that an appropriation of $140,000.00 from the General Reserve Appropriation Fund is hereby made to account of the County Commissioner’s Budget and be a supplement thereto to be designated as the Building Budget in accordance with Sections 31-1605, 31-1608, Idaho Code.”

Thereafter, respondent commissioners retained the services of an architect to prepare plans for the annex, hired a super *64 visor, and commenced construction of the courthouse annex with the county employing labor by the hour and securing materials without first advertising for written bids.

At the time of the argument of this case in this court, an affidavit was filed by-respondents wherein it is stated that the construction of the courthouse annex building was ninety-five percent complete and that all remaining work was expected to be completed within fifteen days. Even though construction of the building was substantially completed at the time of the argument, and the question whether an injunction should have been entered by the trial court is no longer of concern, the other justiciable issues presented by this appeal will be considered.

Appellants contend that respondents were not authorized to construct the courthouse annex as was done, asserting that construction of a county building can be accomplished only after preparation of plans and specifications, followed by advertisement for bids, and award of a contract to the lowest bidder. Respondents, on the other hand, assert that the law contains no prohibition of construction of the building by the county itself as was done here and further, that respondent commissioners were acting within their statutory authority in determining the existence of the declared emergency. Respondents further claim that the trial court was correct in its determination and conclusion that it lacked jurisdiction to question the correctness of the commissioners’ declaration of an emergency necessitating the construction by county employees. Several of the same statutory provisions are cited by both parties, including I.C. § 31-1001, which provides in pertinent part:

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Bluebook (online)
437 P.2d 14, 92 Idaho 61, 1968 Ida. LEXIS 246, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/reynolds-construction-co-v-county-of-twin-falls-idaho-1968.