County to Kick Ass to Enforce Trash Regulation

Last summer, Allan Fexer, of South St. Louis County, challenged the St. Louis County ordinance, which requires that every household have trash service. On July 28 of 2009 he was among the first group of citizens to be hauled into court at the South Division Municipal Court in South County.

Rather than plead guilty and pay a fine, Mr. Fexer asked the judge for a jury trial. His case was referred to the county prosecutor to be placed on the docket for a trial by jury. Several months elapsed, and like a good citizen, Fexer appeared in court for his jury trial on January 20 at the St. Louis County Circuit Court in Clayton, but was referred to the South Division Municipal Court in South County. Upon his arrival at the South Division Court, Fexer was advised by the court clerk that his case had been dismissed by the county prosecutor and that no further action would be taken against him.

So, it seemed that “the little guy” (Allan Fexer) had defeated “the behemoth county trash czar” (St. Louis County) at its own game. However, this story doesn’t end here, nor does it have a very happy ending for Allan Fexer. According to St. Louis County Counselor, Patricia Redington, there was a “glitch in the system” with Mr. Fexer’s case. The prosecutor is in the process of filing new charges against Mr. Fexer and he will be summoned back to court.

So, the trash drama continues to play on in Fexer’s case, as well as for many others who have also requested jury trials. Some speculate that the county may be reluctant to prosecute anyone for non-compliance with its trash ordinance, due to the three pending cases in the courts, one of which is now in federal court.

To hear more of this story, visit Channel 11's report at: http://bit.ly/TrashHarassment or

http://www.kplr11.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=e8b8a3a6-a941-4141-a31d-c9f17bfe71d6&src=front