Opinion ID: 417765
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: County's Authority Prior to July 1, 1981

Text: 21 On July 1, 1981, a new state statute governing general relief became effective which provided great autonomy to counties in administering their relief programs. Iowa Code Chpt. 252 (1982). Significantly, complete power was granted to the board of supervisors to determine the form of the relief. Iowa Code Sec. 252.27 (1982). In its order of January 14, 1982, the district court ruled that the County lacked the authority to offer Collins residence in the care facility prior to the enactment of the state statute on July 1, 1981. The County challenges the court's ruling. 22 In Collins' original and supplemental complaints, he requested only injunctive and declaratory relief. The district court, upon finding that prior to July 1, 1981, the County was without authority to offer placement in the care facility, did not award monetary damages. After the new statute was passed, and the County obtained authority to offer residence in the care facility, the issue of the propriety of the district court's ruling on the County's authority prior to July 1, 1981, became moot. 23 Although the parties did not raise the issue of mootness, it is incumbent upon the court, on its own, to address any questions that arise concerning mootness before proceeding to the merits of the case. Bishop v. Committee on Professional Ethics, Etc., 686 F.2d 1278, 1284 (8th Cir.1982) (citation omitted). In light of the new statute effective July 1, 1981, and the fact that only declaratory relief was requested, we find the issue of the County's authority prior to July 1, 1981, to be moot and we decline to address the issue.