State of Iowa, ex rel. Iowa Department of Transportation v. Honey Creek Drainage District No. 6 Board of Trustees, Robert D. Hansen, Mason J. Hansen, and Richard J. Hansen in their capacities as members of the Board of Trustees of Honey Creek Drainage District No. 6, Pigeon Creek Drainage District No. 2 et. al.

Honey Creek Drainage District No. 6 Board of Trustees, Pigeon Creek Drainage District No. 2 Subdrainage District No.3 Board of Trustees, and the Board of Supervisors of Pottawattamie County (drainage districts) appeal the grant of summary judgment to the State of Iowa ex rel. Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT). They argue: (1) the district court erred in ruling that Iowa Code section 307.45 applies to the drainage districts’ reclassification reports because section 307.45 only applies to cities and counties; (2) the district court erred in failing to rule that sections 468.38–.50 are special statutes that take precedence over section 307.45, which is a general statute; (3) the district court does not have subject matter jurisdiction to consider whether section 307.45 is applicable because under chapter 468, IDOT’s exclusive remedy is to appeal under sections 468.83, .84, and .86; and (4) the district court erred in granting summary judgment because the reclassification report is presumed to be correct and IDOT did not produce its own proposed reclassification report. IDOT cross-appeals arguing that the district court erred in concluding IDOT was not entitled to summary judgment where reclassifications were based upon an assessment of alleged benefits to motorists using state-owned highway property rather than benefits to the actual property or its owner.

Holding: Two drainage districts appeal a district court order setting aside a reclassification. The Iowa Department of Transportation cross-appeals the district court’s directives for assessments of highway land. Affirmed as Modified.