Court decision backs county

 A three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals on Tuesday sustained most of St. Louis County Circuit Judge Robert Cohen's dismissal of a suit by three opponents of trash collection districts in unincorporated St. Louis County.

The opponents had sued the county and the three haulers who won contracts to collect trash in the districts. The opponents argued the districts were improper because they were special assessment districts set up without following a county charter requirement that voters in such districts authorize them.

The suit also wanted the court to order the haulers to return the money trash district householders had paid to them. The court sent the election issue back to Cohen for further consideration. Cathy Armbruster, one of the plaintiffs, said the plaintiffs want to read the decision and then decide their next move.