People Ex Rel. County of St. Clair v. City of Belleville

This is a quo warranto action brought by the People, upon the relation of the County of St. Clair, a township, a road district, and two fire-protection districts, to determine the validity of four annexation ordinances adopted by the city council of the defendant, the city of Belle-ville. After a bench trial, the circuit court of St. Clair county held the ordinances were valid. The appellate court affirmed (81 Ill. App. 3d 379), and we granted leave to appeal. 73 Ill. 2d R. 315.

A complete statement of facts appears in the appellate court opinion. (81 Ill. App. 3d 379.) A brief summary will…