1. When, after a drainage or levee district has been established, except districts established by mutual agreement in accordance with section 468.142, and the improvements thereof constructed and put in operation, there has been a material change as to lands occupied by highway or railroad right-of-way or in the character of the lands benefited by the improvement, or when a repair, improvement, or extension has become necessary, the board may consider whether the existing assessments are equitable as a basis for payment of the expense of maintaining the district and of making the repair, improvement or extension. If they find the same to be inequitable in any particular, they shall by resolution express such finding, appoint three commissioners possessing the qualifications prescribed in section 468.38 and order a reclassification as follows:

 a. If they find the assessments to be generally inequitable they shall order a reclassification of all property subject to assessment, such as lands, highways, and railroads in said district.
 b. If the inequity ascertained by the board is limited to the proportion paid by highways or railroads, a general reclassification of all lands shall not be necessary but the commissioners may evaluate and determine the fair proportion to be paid by such highways or railroads or both as provided in sections 468.42 and 468.43.
 c. Any benefits of a character for which levee or drainage districts may be established and which are attributable to or enhanced by the improvement or by the repair, improvement, or extension thereof, shall be a proper subject of consideration in a reclassification notwithstanding the district may have been originally established for a limited purpose.
 d. (1) If after a district has been reclassified, the board in its judgment concludes there were errors in the reclassification or there is an inequitable assessment of benefits, the board may on its own motion, after notice to the landowners involved as provided in sections 468.14 through 468.18 and by resolution, order the district or any portion of the district to again be reclassified as prescribed in this section and in section 468.67.

 (2) The board may include in its resolution an order to the commissioners that they prepare special common outlet classifications, if needed, in conjunction with the reclassification of the district.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 468.65

  • commissioners: shall mean the persons appointed and qualified to classify lands, fix percentages of benefits, apportion and assess costs and expenses in any levee or drainage district, unless otherwise specifically indicated by law. See Iowa Code 468.3
  • district: means a district defined by a county and one or more cities within the county pursuant to an agreement entered into by the county and cities in accordance with chapter 28E and this part with respect to drainage improvements which the county and cities determine benefit the property located in the cities and the designated unincorporated area of the county. See Iowa Code 468.585
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • levee: shall be construed to include, in addition to its ordinary and accepted meaning, embankments, revetments, retards, or any other approved system of construction which may be deemed necessary to adequately protect the banks of any river or stream, within or adjacent to any county, from wash, cutting, or erosion. See Iowa Code 468.3
  • property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. Such reclassification when finally adopted shall remain the basis for all future assessments unless revised as provided in this subchapter, parts 1 through 5.
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