Opinion ID: 1828112
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: excessive cost of proposed building

Text: The plaintiffs also contend that the cost of the proposed masonry building, when contrasted with the cost of a pre-engineered, prefabricated steel structure building, is so grossly excessive that it constitutes an abuse of discretion by the commissioners. The cost of the proposed masonry building is $211,929. The cost of a pre-engineered, prefabricated steel building, as indicated by a preliminary estimate furnished by one Stanley Sand who sells and rents prefabricated steel buildings, amounts to $126,850. This is a difference in cost of $85,079. This estimate, however, was prepared prior to drawing up plans and specifications and may not accurately reflect the final cost figure for a steel building. But even if the $126,850 figure is accepted as accurate the difference, taking into consideration the difference in quality of the two types of buildings, is not so grossly excessive as to constitute an abuse of discretion. Furthermore a steel building does not comply with the requirements of the fire zoning ordinance. In Schatz v. City Council of City of New England, 61 N.W.2d 423 (N.D.1953), the court held that the sale of the city's electric utility for $105,000 and the extension of gas service to the city, when the plaintiffs claimed the value of the utility was $150,000, was not so grossly inadequate as to indicate a want of reasonable judgment and discretion. In the present case we believe that the cost of the masonry building is not so grossly excessive when compared to the cost of a steel building that it constitutes an abuse of discretion. In Gehrke v. Board of Commissioners, 58 N.D. 407, 226 N.W. 536 (1929), which was a suit by taxpayers to restrain the county commissioners from proceeding pursuant to a resolution passed by them providing that a war memorial should be constructed, and from expending any public funds for such construction, in upholding the actions of the county commissioners the court held as follows: The statute here involved reposes a very wide discretion in boards of county commissioners. The defendant commissioners acted under the power granted to them. They exercised their discretion. Even though their judgment may not have been sound, or their discretion wise, nevertheless that which they determined upon will not be disturbed in a court of equity, unless an abuse of discretion so great as to amount to fraud is established.  There has been no evidence of fraud in the case before us and therefore there is no abuse of discretion. Plaintiffs' final contention is that written petitions have been presented to the commissioners expressing a preference for a central county location for the building. In Gehrke the court stated the following in answer to the contention that a majority of the citizens of the county were opposed to the proposed location of the war memorial: But the statute delegates the power to the board, without restriction, to determine both the questions of whether a memorial shall be erected and where it shall be erected. It does not contemplate that these questions are to be determined by popular vote, or by petition, or by remonstrance. The statute imposes upon the board itself the duty of passing upon these questions. It alone is made responsible. The board, of course, may consider petitions or remonstrances, if it sees fit to do so; but it is not bound thereby. The commissioners must exercise their discretion in the matter, and, having done so, the fact that their judgment is counter to that of a large number of the citizens of their county is not alone sufficient reason for interfering with their determination. Gehrke v. Board of Commissioners, 226 N.W. 536, 539. For the reasons set forth herein we affirm the judgment of the district court. Judgment affirmed. STRUTZ, C. J., and KNUDSON, PAULSON and ERICKSTAD, JJ., concur.