Heck v. School District Number Two

Campbell, J. This is a proceeding to review the action of the circuit court for the county of Clinton in confirming the condemnation of land for the site of a school-house. The petition, which was presented to a justice of the peace, set forth a designation by the school inspector, and inability to agree with the owner. It appears that no evidence was laid before the jury of any action had to select the location. It further appears that no notice was taken of Caroline Heck, who owns one-, half of the land, which was dealt with throughout as land of William Heck. On the final proceedings in the circuit [552] court one of the school officers undertook to show by-affidavit that at the annual meeting the school-district had failed to agree upon .a site, and asked the inspectors to do-so. Nothing was produced from the records on the subject. The case shows that there was a site already in use. The statute providing for the condemnation of land for "tchool purposes only permits it when a site has been lawfully determined. Laws 1881, p. 184.* It confines the-power of the inspectors to cases where no site can be established by the inhabitants. It does not seem to contemplate that the designation of more than one site shall be made in any case except by the inhabitants themselves. The statute also distinctly provides that when a jury is-sworn proof shall be made to the jury of a legal selection. §' 2. The justice to whom application is made is not empowered to hear evidence or pass upon any of the merits of the-case. The facts must therefore be shown to the body which is to pass upon the questions on which the right to have a. condemnation depends. ¥e need not at this time consider whether the jury would be bound to find necessity on the mere action designating the site. They certainly cannot do-so without proof of such designation. This must be proved, by the records and cannot be taken for granted. "Without discussing the other questions on the record, wetliink the failure to show any lawful designation was fatal to the entire proceeding, which must be quashed, with costs. The other Justices concurred. Footnotes [*] Act 164 of 1881, Public Acts, p. 184. Chapter m Sites eor school-houses. Section 1. The qualified voters of any school district, when lawfully-assembled. may designate by a vote of two-thirds of those present, suchi number of sites as may be desired for school-houses, and may change-the same by a similar vote at any annual meeting. When no site can be established by such inhabitants as aforesaid, the school inspectors of the-township or townships in which the district is situated shall determine-where such site shall be, and their determination shall be certified* to the-director of the district, and shall be final, subject to alteration afterward by the inspectors, on the written request of two-thirds of disqualified voters of the district, or by two-thirds of the qualified vote» agreeing upon a site, at a district meeting lawfully called..