Legal Document

410 U.S. 743 93 Supreme Court Reporter 1237 35 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 675 ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES, INC., and Johnston Fuel Liners, Appellants,v.TOLTEC WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. Number 71—1069. Argued Jan. 8, 1973. Decided March 20, Henry Atlantic Burgess, Sheridan, Wyo., for appellants. Fred W. Phifer, Wheatland, appellee. PER CURIAM. 1 In this case, we are confronted with an issue similar to the one determined today in Salyer Land company versus Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District, 719, 1224, 659. Appellee Toltec Watershed Improvement District was established after referendum held pursuant Wyoming's Act, Wyo.Stat.Ann. §§ 41—354.1 41—354.26 (Supp.1971). After formation, appellee sought a right of entry onto lands owned by appellant Associated Enterprises, Inc., leased purpose carrying out studies determine feasibility constructing dam reservoir. When Enterprises resisted, district enforce its state court. Arguing that statutes authorizing violated Equal Protection Clause since under § 41—354.9 only landowners entitled vote 41—354.10 watershed improvement cannot be administratively practicable feasible unless majority votes cast, representing acreage district, favor creation, appellants maintained illegally formed. The trial court agreed had been formed violation Clause, would have good defense law asserted entry, but it against them on merits. Wyoming affirmed, 490 Pacific Reporter, 2nd 1069. 2 Appellants urge here provisions entitling weighting according violate Clause. Like California water storage is governmental unit special or limited whose activities disproportionate effect within district. district's operations conducted through projects land assessed any benefits received. 41—354.17, 41—354.21, 41—354.22. Such assessments constitute lien until paid. Id., 41—354.23. 3 We agree dissent's intimation Legislature has sense abdicated wealthy few ultimate authority over management State. statute establishment districts enacted legislature which all State's electors unquestioned fairly represented. Under act, may as subdivisions soil conservation districts. 41—354.3. And precondition their formation determination board supervisors affected popularly elected both occupiers owners necessary practicable. 41—354.7, 41—354.8; Conservation Districts Law, 11—234 et seq., 11—243 As Salyer, supra, hold State could rationally conclude primarily burdened benefited operation condition accordingly. judgment appealed from is, therefore, affirmed. 4 Affirmed. 5 Mr. Justice DOUGLAS, whom BRENNAN MARSHALL concur, dissenting. 6 * For reasons set forth my dissenting opinion 735, 1233, 659, & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions voting Act pass muster Accordingly, dissent. 7 At result May 12, 1969.1 8 purposes 'to provide prevention control erosion, floodwater sediment damages, storage, conservation, development, utilization, disposal water.' 41—354.2. These not related special, narrow interests landowners. noted flood affects at least everyone whether he owner, lessee, resident engaged farming, grazing, other agricultural activity. 9 June 1970, foundation site. if formed, they merits, despite appellants' objections authorized creation franchise being property owners, weighted amount owned. On appeal, 10 presumption Phoenix Kolodziejski, 399 204, 90 1990, 26 523, overcome, '(p)lacing (voting) power alone can justified some overriding interest those recognize.' 209, 1994. Here, suggestion made below 'primarily concerned' affairs But assuming, arguendo, may, circumstances, limit portion electorate affected' outcome election, Kramer Union Free School 395 621, 632, 89 1886, 1892, 23 583 limitation upheld demonstrated 'all excluded fact substantially less interested than (franchise) includes.' Ibid. 11 Other bald assertion 'makes sense' referenda there nothing record support exclusion. Appellant lessee District. Why 'substantially interested' titleholder left speculation.2 mere speculation insufficient justify infringement vote, 'the essence democratic society,' Reynolds Sims, 377 533, 555, 84 1362, 1378, 12 506. Moreover, recently stated 'a percentage reduction individual's proportion (constitutionally) defective. See Stewart Parish Board, 310 F.Supp. 1172 (ED La.), aff'd, 400 884, 91 136, 27 129 (1970).' Gordon Lance, 403 1, n. 1889, 1891, 29 273. II 13 It argued, however, unlike 'units local government having general powers entire geographic area served body,' Avery Midland County, Tex., 390 474, 485, 88 1114, 1120, 20 45, special-purpose assigned performance functions affecting definable groups constituents more constituents,' id., 483—484, S.Ct., 1120. make such analysis. 14 test, significantly liberalized Hadley Junior College Metropolitan Kansas City, Missouri, 397 50, 791, 25 45. election trustees ran junior college. said, 15 '(S)ince levy collect taxes, bonds certain restrictions, hire fire teachers, contracts, fees, supervise discipline students, petitions annex school districts, acquire condemnation, manage college, equivalent, apportionment purposes, exercised county commissioners Avery. . (T)hese powers, while fully broad County Commissioners, certainly show perform important sufficient impact throughout conclusion principle applied should also here.' 53—54, 794. (Emphasis added, footnote omitted.) 16 Measured surely performs 'important functions' 'have district' application principle. may: assessments, Who.Stat.Ann. 41—354.13(A); dispose property, 41—354.13(B); exercise eminent domain, 41—354.13(C); borrow money bonds, 41—354.13(E)—all control. 17 lower characterized these 'proprietary' nature, rather 'governmental.' meaningless distinction when public issue. Cipriano City Houma, 701, 1897, 647; Board St. Charles, 1172, 1176, 129. hardly argued body take plans does 'perform functions.' 18 inconceivable destroy river damming so deprive salient environmental assets 'sufficient impact' people generally invoke principles Hadley. 19 said difference between create either authorize elect officers. view, tenable. 'Our exacting examination (of selectively distribute franchise) necessitated subject election; rather, required because citizens permitted participate not.' U.S., 629, 1891. Hadley: 21 'If particular were determining factor deciding voters equal power, courts faced difficult job distinguishing various elections. readily perceive judicially manageable standards aid task. might suggested 'important' elections, common tell us what vital voter well routine another.' 55, 795. 22 subjects residents constraints. condemn without further electoral approval; finance improvements taxes levied approval. While fall first instance landowner, lessees tenants affected, well.3 reshape enables turn rivers into flumes erecting dams build reservoirs. Dams disastrous. sedimentation rate areas fast reduce life decades. valued fish runs. substitute reservoir wipe varied course, including wildlife, canoe waters, camping picnic grounds, nesting birds. This reshaping face Nation disastrous, no matter who casts ballots. enormity our ethics, represented federal laws, increased ballot restricted heavily behalf wealthy. issues tender disposed suggestions members passed now challenged, Wyoming, therefore put command problems tendered case. That would, true case presented question. adherence Sims progeny makes rule dominant, viz., groups, powerful lobbies discrete often beholden. 24 reverse below. Establishment entails several steps. First, petition proposing must filed proposed will lie. 41—354.5. boundaries justifying signed receipt petition, call hearing, '(a)ll parties shall attend heard.' 41—354.7(A). need If so, forthwith denied. 41 354.7(C). do think need, 'administratively feasible.' 41—354.8. 'To assist determination,' 'upon proposition district.' Only lying referendum. 41—354.9(B). feasible, declare created. Once created, powers. bonds. 41—354.13 354.14. itself contemplates nonlandowners giving appear heard hearing prior supra. No reason advanced why person owning sufficiently given forum, yet allowed implement views expresses forum box. Landowners able tenants. D. Netzer, Economics Property Tax (1966). especially urban where demand rental housing price inelastic, rural areas, well.

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