UKKONEN v. CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, 280 Minn. 494 (1968)

160 N.W.2d 249

Nos. 40,885, 40,886, 40,887.Supreme Court of Minnesota.
June 28, 1968.

Municipal corporations — hazardous buildings — judgments authorizing removal — legality.

In proceedings by a municipality pursuant to L. 1965, c. 393, Minn. St. 463.15 to 463.26, for the repair or removal of hazardous buildings,

Page 495

held, the evidence sustains findings and conclusions that the buildings were hazardous by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, physical damage, and unsanitary condition constituting a fire hazard or a hazard to public safety or health, and judgments authorizing the municipality to raze the buildings forthwith or at a future date fixed by the court were lawful and appropriate.

Proceedings in the Hennepin County District Court initiated by the city of Minneapolis for authority to raze certain allegedly hazardous buildings. After adverse findings, William D. Gunn, Judge, Kenneth Ukkonen and Dorothy Ukkonen, owners of said buildings, appealed from the judgments entered. Affirmed.

Shanedling, Phillips, Gross Aaron and John H. Bix, for appellants.

Keith M. Stidd, City Attorney, and Ronald H. Linman, Assistant City Attorney, for respondent.

PETERSON, JUSTICE.

The city of Minneapolis, upon a finding that three buildings variously owned by the two defendants were “hazardous buildings,” instituted proceedings in the District Court of Hennepin County, pursuant to L. 1965, c. 393, Minn. St. 463.15
to 463.26, for the repair or removal of the buildings. Defendants appeal from judgments declaring each structure to be a hazardous building within the terms of the statute and authorizing the city to raze one building[1] forthwith and raze either of the other two buildings[2] if by May 1, 1967, the defendant owner had not complied with an earlier order and judgment of the district court by taking specified corrective action. The only issue to be considered is whether the evidence supports the judgment, and we hold in each case that it does.

The procedure and ultimate findings in each case are essentially the same and, except for evidentiary differences, all three cases are typified by the case of 2533 Irving Avenue North. The city by an order of its council on July 8, 1966, directed to defendant Kenneth L. Ukkonen as the record owner of the premises, identified the building by address and legal description and made findings —

Page 496

“* * * that the building is unoccupied; that sections of the concrete block foundation are badly deteriorated; that the wooden foundation sills are decayed and rotted; that the exterior siding is broken, deteriorated and fallen from place; that the roof cornice is rotted and collapsing; that there are large holes in the asphalt roof covering and there is evidence that the roof leaks; that there are large holes in the plaster finish of the walls and ceilings; that many of the window lights are broken and the sash damaged or destroyed; that the water traps of the wash basin and water closet are dry, resulting in open sewers; that the interior of this dwelling is littered with paper, lumber, wood lath, plaster and debris; that this building is a greater fire hazard due to the accumulation of flammable materials, due to the exposure of the wooden framing members caused by the missing plaster surfacing, and due to the fact that this building is open, vacant and unattended; that this building constitutes a hazard to public health because of the unsanitary condition caused by the open sewer piping; that this building constitutes a hazard to public safety because of physical damage, dilapidation, and inadequate maintenance; and that by reason of the above facts the above described building constitutes a hazardous building within the definition of Chapter 393 of the Laws of 1965 [Minn. St. 463.15
to 463.26].”[3]

The council’s order directed “that the above hazardous building be made safe and not detrimental to the public health, welfare and safety by being razed * * * within twenty (20) days from the date of the service of this order.” Defendant was by the same order expressly “advised that unless such corrective action is taken to comply with this order or an answer is served * * * within twenty (20) days from the date of the service of this order upon you, a motion for summary enforcement of this order will be made to the District Court of Hennepin County.”[4]

Page 497

An August 16, 1966, defendant interposed an answer pro se, stating as follows:

“That the owner will put in repairs and make property in habitable condition so that it will comply with the ordinances of the City of Minneapolis, by doing the following:

“Reroof;

“Reside;

“Repair foundation;

“Replace rotted framing;

“Repair walls, floors and ceiling where necessary;

“Install new steps to both entrances;

“Have wiring and plumbing brought up to Minneapolis Code.”

The case came on for trial as a contested case in district court[5] before the Honorable William D. Gunn, at which time defendant was represented by counsel. The principal witness for the city was its chief building inspector, one Willard R. McNaughtan, a professional engineer with senior certificates in mechanical and civil engineering from the University

Page 498

of Minnesota. His testimony was worthy of credit and specifically supported the findings of the city council. The council’s findings apparently were based upon McNaughtan’s report of his personal inspection of the premises on April 21, 1966, after which he had conferred with defendant on two occasions in May, prior to the issuance of the council’s order. McNaughtan additionally testified concerning inspections made by him subsequent to time of the council’s order. On July 8, 1966, the day of the council’s order, he found from inspection that the conditions were unchanged from the date of his first inspection. He inspected the building again on September 8, 1966, and observed that the building had been reroofed and that new gutters had been installed but were not connected with leaders. The rotted cornice had been painted rather than replaced. On October 27, 1966, the day prior to trial, McNaughtan again inspected the building and found that no other repairs or replacements had been made.[6] Numerous photographs of this and the other buildings were before the court; and, in addition, the court itself, with the parties’ consent, apparently made a personal view of this particular building.

Judge Gunn, on November 14, 1966, found as facts that the building was in a state of inadequate maintenance and dilapidation and constituted

Page 499

a fire hazard and a hazard to public safety and health, including the specific conditions first found by the city council. He concluded that the building “is a hazardous building within the terms of Chap. 393, Laws of 1965.” His order provided in part —

“* * * that the order of the City Council of the City of Minneapolis is modified to allow the owner to repair and correct the hazardous conditions of the said building in accordance with the terms of this order. In the event the said owner does not, within sixty (60) days from the date of this order, repair the stone foundation, repair all broken windows and window glass, repair and restore to a sanitary condition all plumbing fixtures and piping, repair the damaged electrical wiring, remove all debris and combustible waste materials from the said building and securely close and keep closed all doors, windows and other openings into said building while unoccupied, the City of Minneapolis, upon a proper showing and approval of this Court shall be authorized forthwith to raze said building.” (Italics supplied.)

Judgment was entered accordingly on November 22, 1966.[7]

The city, on March 1, 1967, moved for a further order of the court authorizing it to raze the building forthwith, asserting defendant’s noncompliance with the trial court’s order and the judgment. McNaughtan at that hearing apprised the court that he had made two subsequent inspections of defendant’s premises. An inspection on January 25, 1967, revealed that the stone foundation, windows, and electrical wiring had not been repaired; that the plumbing had not been repaired or restored to a sanitary condition; that debris and combustible waste materials were still present; and that there was an open cellar window permitting continued access to trespassers. His final inspection, made on March 13,

Page 500

1967, the day prior to hearing on the motion, disclosed that the condition of the premises was the same as he had observed on January 25, 1967, except that the window glass — other than a cellar window — had been replaced.

Judge Gunn entered an order on March 23, 1967, directing “that the City of Minneapolis be and hereby is authorized forthwith to raze the said hazardous building in accordance with the judgment and decree entered herein on November 22, 1966.” Judgment was entered accordingly on April 4, 1967. Defendant Kenneth Ukkonen appeals from that judgment and defendant Dorothy Ukkonen appeals from like judgments entered the same day concerning each of the other two buildings.[8]

The evidence amply supports the findings of the trial court and those findings fully support its conclusions of law. The orders for judgment were lawful and appropriate. The proceedings reflect the court’s caution and restraint in the enforcement of the statute’s drastic provisions. The extension of time granted with respect to the other two premises was without doubt prompted by the court’s consideration of the more substantial investment of the owner in those buildings, for McNaughtan had expressed his opinion that only the building at 2533 Irving Avenue North was not economically feasible to repair. Greater leniency than here evinced might well frustrate an important public interest.[9]

Defendants, on appeal, challenge the constitutionality of L. 1965, c.

Page 501

393, but validity of the statute was at no time challenged or litigated in the court below. We do not decide that question. The statute, we observe nevertheless, bears strong resemblance to similar statutory powers granted the state fire marshal to “condemn, and by order direct the destruction, repair, or alteration of, any building or structure which, by reason of age, dilapidated condition, defective chimneys, defective electric wiring, gas connections, heating apparatus, or other defect is especially liable to fire and which building or structure in the judgment of the state fire marshal, is so situated as to endanger life or limb or other buildings or property in the vicinity.” Minn. St. 73.09. The two statutes are similar, too, in their enforcement procedures, §§ 73.10 and 73.16. These statutes have been held constitutional, as a valid exercise of the state’s police power. York v. Hargadine, 142 Minn. 219, 171 N.W. 773, 3 A.L.R. 1627; State Fire Marshal v. Fitzpatrick, 149 Minn. 203, 183 N.W. 141; State Fire Marshal v. Sherman, 201 Minn. 594, 277 N.W. 249. See, also, Village of Zumbrota v. Johnson, footnote 5, supra.

Affirmed.