Opinion ID: 2003432
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Alleged Failure to Adhere to the Cook County Ordinances in Passing the Balefill Ordinance

Text: Count III alleges in large part that Cook County failed to follow various of its own ordinances in approving the balefill ordinance. Even if this were true, however, plaintiffs could not successfully challenge Cook County's balefill ordinance. In evaluating the balefill ordinance, we must keep in mind the broad powers of home rule units of government such as Cook County. Article VII, section 6(a), of the Illinois Constitution of 1970 provides in pertinent part: Except as limited by this Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs including, but not limited to, the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals and welfare   . (Ill. Const.1970, art. VII, § 6(a).) Moreover, article VII, section 6(m), provides that the powers and functions of home rule powers are to be construed broadly. Ill. Const.1970, art. VII, § 6(m). Indeed, this court has concluded that home rule units have all the powers of the sovereign, limited only by the constitution itself and the General Assembly. ( City of Urbana v. Houser (1977), 67 Ill.2d 268, 273, 10 Ill.Dec. 239, 367 N.E.2d 692.) From this it follows that, [t]his court cannot handle matters which in effect are attempts to overrule decisions of a legislative body based upon alleged failure to follow requirements imposed by that body on itself.    We have authority to invalidate legislation    only upon grounds that the enactment violates a provision of the Federal or State constitutions or violates the mandate of a State or Federal statute. ( Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois v. City of Chicago (1988), 125 Ill.2d 164, 179, 125 Ill.Dec. 830, 531 N.E.2d 9, citing Chirikos v. Yellow Cab Co. (1980), 87 Ill.App.3d 569, 574, 43 Ill. Dec. 61, 410 N.E.2d 61.) (Accord In re Application of the County Collector of Kane County (1989), 132 Ill.2d 64, 74-75, 138 Ill.Dec. 138, 547 N.E.2d 107 (failure of home rule unit to comply with its own ordinance fatal only if said ordinance is mandatory).) Thus, insofar as plaintiffs have not alleged any violation of an applicable statute or constitutional provision, the trial court was correct in dismissing, with prejudice, the portions of count III alleging injury resulting from Cook County's alleged failure to comply with its own ordinances in approving the balefill ordinance.