Opinion ID: 2150944
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Assessment of benefits.

Text: The next matter disputed by plaintiffs at the February 11, 1970, hearing was the amount of benefits assessed against the plaintiffs. The computation of benefits to a given farmer, as the result of improved drainage, is a very complicated procedure. The procedure was explained in outline form by the expert witness, John Prunuske, the engineer for the drainage board. He informed the court that he followed the procedure required by sec. 88.30, Stats. That section provides that the board's engineer must secure a report from the University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture when the total amount of land in the proposed district exceeds 200 acres. In preparing its report, the College of Agriculture consults soil maps to determine what kind of soil lies beneath each farmer's wetland. The college then determines what the highest and best use of that wetland will be once it has been drained. The college finally computes the benefits which will accrue to each farmer as a result of the fact that he will enjoy an increase in his total number of productive acres. In accordance with sec. 88.30, Stats., the report of the board's engineer included a report from the College of Agriculture; and the engineer testified that it was an accurate report. Sec. 88.30 (4) provides that . . . Such reports constitute prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. The plaintiffs offered no evidence which would overcome this presumption of validity. Their only argument was that the land already had what in their opinion were adequate drainage facilities; and, therefore, no benefits would accrue as a result of this impending drainage project. The board contradicted this  argument by the testimony of its engineer, and the resulting conflict presented a question of opinion evidence for the trier of fact. Plaintiffs also contend that the record does not contain adequate evidence of the accuracy of their assessment, because the board did not produce at trial the soil maps on which the assessment was in part based. They contend that this unfairly limited the scope of his cross-examination of the board's engineer. Plaintiffs could have subpoenaed, or even made an informal request for, the production of these maps prior to the hearing, but they chose not to do so. Moreover, the soil type for each assessment was listed in the board's final report to the court; and plaintiffs do not contend that this wetland is not the kind of soil which the board reported it to be. Therefore, production of the soil maps would have been cumulative, and the failure to produce them was in no way prejudicial to the plaintiffs. Plaintiffs' final argument is that the final report of the board listed them as owners of 160 acres, rather than 156 actually possessed. The error in total acreage did not affect the accuracy of the board's calculation of plaintiffs' assessment because that calculation was based, not on the total acreage owned, but only on the total of wetland acres owned. As to wetland acres, plaintiffs concede that the board's figure is accurate. We conclude that the testimony given by the expert engineer, John Prunuske, substantiates the finding of the trial court with reference to the assessment against plaintiffs. Under the familiar rule that findings of a trial judge will be affirmed unless contrary to the great weight and clear preponderance of the evidence, we must affirm the findings of the trial court. By the Court. Orders affirmed.