Great Plains Resources, Inc. v. City of Benton

Appeal is taken from a declaratory judgment of the circuit court of Franklin County in which the court found a city ordinance regulating the drilling of oil wells violative of the constitutions of the United States of America and the State of Illinois. The issue presented is whether the judgment was contrary to law or the manifest weight of the evidence before the trial court.

Chapter 28 of the Revised Code of the city of Benton governs the licensing and regulation of gas and oil wells. The following sections are the subject of this action: section 28 — 1 — 9, concerning license fees and…