Goodenow v. City Council of Maquoketa

McGIVERIN, Chief Justice.

In this case, we must determine whether a city has authority to enact and enforce an ordinance requiring an abutting landowner to mow grass and weeds growing in a city-owned right-of-way. The district court concluded that a city has such authority and granted summary judgment in favor of the defendant city, thereby dismissing plaintiff landowner’s petition challenging such authority. We affirm.

I. Background facts and proceedings.

The Goodenow Family Trust (“Trust”) is the owner of a farm that has been in the Goodenow family for more than one hundred years. Plaintiff…