16.10 Consent of Property Owners

   No consent of any owner of property abutting on any street, alley, public way, place or ground shall be required for the construction, maintenance or operation of any public utility therein either under the original franchise or any renewal thereof; but any owner of such property shall be entitled to recover from the owner of a public utility the amount of actual damage to such property occasioned by the utility, less any benefits accruing thereto from the utility, provided that suit is commenced within one year after damage is begun.