Opinion ID: 2114872
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Modification of the Petition.

Text: The second question to be determined on this appeal is when may signatures be added or withdrawn from the original petition. The referee's position was that sec. 60.06, Stats., established a definite procedure for the formation of a new town, and no signatures may be added after notice is given that there will be a hearing on the original petition to create a new town. On the matter of subtracting signatures he was of the opinion that since no procedure was established by sec. 60.06, Stats., for objectors, signatures could be subtracted at any time until the hearing was closed, and that a petition without verification was sufficient for this purpose even though the original petition was required by statute to be verified by three persons. Sec. 60.06 (2), Stats., requires that the petition be signed by a majority of the electors and a majority of resident freeholders and homesteaders of the proposed town; it must be verified by three of the signers, then it is presented to the circuit court, or the presiding judge of the county in which the territory is located. The statute requires the trial judge by order to fix the time and place of the hearing of the petition, and direct that a copy of the petition and order be served upon the clerk of the town or towns involved and publication of notice. The statute is silent with respect to the right to add or withdraw signatures from the original petition. Under these circumstances we determine that the correct rule to adopt regarding additions or withdrawals is that a signature once affixed to the original petition cannot be withdrawn after such petition has been filed with the court, unless fraud or duress can be shown; and likewise, no signatures may be added after the original petition is filed with the court. [1] We hold further that any counterpetition seeking to withdraw the signature of a signer made before the filing date of the original petition, or a counterpetition which seeks to prove any other evidentiary fact relevant to the sufficiency of the original petition must meet the same formal verities required of the original petition. See Halgren v. Welling (1936), 91 Utah 16, 63 Pac. (2d) 550. The legislature intended that the incorporation of a new town under the provisions of sec. 60.06, Stats., be a oneshot deal. The only issue to be determined by the circuit court is whether the petition meets the statutory requirements. The circuit court has no discretion except with respect to the determination of issues of fact which may arise at the hearing. If the petition is sufficient to meet the requirements of sec. 60.06, the trial court must enter an order providing for the organization of a new town. Because the record is not clear as to who are electors and who are resident freeholders, it is not possible to determine the total numbers of each and the other facts necessary to make a determination of the sufficiency of the petition. Therefore the proceedings will be remanded to the circuit court for Florence county for the purpose of determining the sufficiency of the petition. By the Court. Order reversed, and cause remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion. WILKIE, J., took no part.