St. Charles County v. Dardenne Realty Co.

771 S.W.2d 828, 1989 Mo. LEXIS 61, 1989 WL 62815
CourtSupreme Court of Missouri
DecidedJune 13, 1989
Docket71386
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 771 S.W.2d 828 (St. Charles County v. Dardenne Realty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
St. Charles County v. Dardenne Realty Co., 771 S.W.2d 828, 1989 Mo. LEXIS 61, 1989 WL 62815 (Mo. 1989).

Opinion

COVINGTON, Judge.

St. Charles County filed a petition for injunctive relief against landowners, alleging four counts of public nuisance and four counts of zoning violations. The county appealed from the trial court’s order granting landowners’ motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment. The Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the nuisance counts because of the county’s lack of standing, but reversed the granting of the motions for summary judgment and remanded as to the zoning violations. This Court granted transfer. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

In September, 1976, the county enacted and adopted a Revised Zoning Order pursuant to Chapter 64, RSMo 1969. In November, 1978, also pursuant to Chapter 64, the county established a zoning order (Flood Plain Order) for federally designated flood plain districts. One such flood plain district encompasses the landowners’ properties. The Flood Plain Order provides, in pertinent part, that “[n]o person, firm or corporation shall initiate any development or substantial improvement ... without first obtaining a separate permit....”

The county filed a multi-count petition for injunctive relief. Counts one through four alleged that the landowners violated the Revised Zoning Order, as well as the Flood Plain Order, of St. Charles County by constructing, extending, converting, or altering levees without first obtaining permits. Counts five through eight alleged that the levees caused water to back up onto state highway C. As a result, the petition alleged, the highway becomes impassable, thereby creating a public nuisance.

The landowners filed motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment based on several grounds. As one such ground, the landowners pointed to § 64.620, RSMo 1986, which provides in relevant part that the provisions of Chapter 64 “shall not be exercised so as to impose regulations or to require permits with respect to land, used or to be used for the raising of crops, orchards or forestry or with respect to the erection, maintenance, repair, alteration or extension of farm buildings or farm structures.” In support, the landowners submitted affidavits attesting to the agricultural use of their property. In addition, the landowners alleged that the county had no standing to bring an action regarding state highway C since it was a state highway and state property.

The trial court agreed with the landowners, finding that the county “has no standing to bring the action to enjoin the alleged flooding of a state highway.” Further, the trial judge found “that the levees ... are farm structures and no permits were or are required.” The trial court dismissed all counts with prejudice.

The county alleges that the trial court erred in dismissing its petition because the county has standing to bring suit to enjoin a public nuisance on a state highway when the nuisance affects the public safety and welfare of county residents.

*830 The trial court properly dismissed the nuisance counts. The county’s petition identifies the plaintiff as “St. Charles County, Missouri; a first class county.” Under certain circumstances, a local governmental unit can properly sue in its own name to enjoin a public nuisance. See, e.g., City of Kansas City v. Mary Don Co., 606 S.W.2d 411 (Mo.App.1980). Here, however, the county’s petition seeks to enjoin a public nuisance on a state highway. The construction and maintenance of state highways is under the exclusive jurisdiction and control of the State Highways and Transportation Commission. § 227.030, RSMo 1986. The fact that a state highway goes through a municipality does not make it the property of the municipality. State ex rel. Russell v. State Highway Comm’n, 328 Mo. 942, 42 S.W.2d 196, 204 (1931). Rather, the highway remains the state’s property and under the state’s control. See, Crofton v. City of Kansas City, 660 S.W.2d 709, 716 (Mo.App.1983). Thus, if the county desires to bring suit to enjoin a public nuisance on a state highway, the suit must be instituted and maintained in the name of, and on behalf of, the State of Missouri by the prosecuting attorney on the information of the county. State ex rel. Carter County v. Pennington, 720 S.W.2d 779, 780 (Mo.App.1986). Because the county’s petition was not brought by the prosecuting attorney of St. Charles County for and on behalf of the State of Missouri, the county’s petition on the public nuisance counts fails for lack of standing. County of Shannon v. Mertzlufft, 630 S.W.2d 238, 239 (Mo.App.1982). Having no jurisdiction, the trial court properly dismissed the county’s petition with respect to those counts.

The second allegation of error is that the trial court erred in dismissing the county’s petition because a levee is not a “farm structure” as the term is used in § 64.620.

It is unnecessary to address the county’s second allegation of error as presented. Without deciding whether a levee is a farm structure within the meaning of § 64.620, the trial court’s entry of summary judgment may be affirmed under other provisions of the statute which exempt from the permit requirement land used for the raising of crops.

Summary judgment may be entered only when the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Rule 74.04(c); Belton v. Board of Police Comm’rs, 708 S.W.2d 131, 132 (Mo. banc 1986). Supporting and opposing affidavits must be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify on the matters stated therein. Rule 74.04(e); Allen v. St. Luke’s Hosp. of Kansas City, 532 S.W.2d 505, 507 (Mo.App.1975). A party confronted by a proper motion for summary judgment may not rest upon mere allegations or denials in his pleadings but must, in order to overcome the motion, by affidavits or otherwise, set forth specific facts showing a genuine issue for trial. Rule 74.04(e); Cherry v. City of Hayti Heights, 563 S.W.2d 72, 75 (Mo. banc 1978). An affidavit which fails to aver specific facts and relies only upon mere doubt and speculation fails to raise any issue of material fact. American Bank of Princeton v. Stiles, 731 S.W.2d 332, 339 (Mo.App.1987).

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Bluebook (online)
771 S.W.2d 828, 1989 Mo. LEXIS 61, 1989 WL 62815, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/st-charles-county-v-dardenne-realty-co-mo-1989.