St. Louis County Councilman Mark Harder discusses his proposal to create a city manager role

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The St. Louis County Council Committee of the Whole will hold a hearing Tuesday afternoon on changing the make-up of county government.

Councilman Mark Harder's proposal would add a county manager, who would serve in addition to the current executive.

"The big part of this that we would take politics out of potholes," said Harder on Total Information A.M. Tuesday. "What happens in a county as large as St. Louis County and we're approaching $1 billion budget is that a lot of things don't get done because of political maneuvering or that people for whatever reason will slow walk a project that shouldn't take that long.

Having a professional person that is not politically connected or politically appointed by either the council or the county executive will help get things done in a professional way."

As for the cost of hiring this person, Harder thinks they could make up that cost in efficiencies.

Opponents say that kind of arrangement might give too much power to an official who is not elected; a county manager would be appointed by the council or county executive.

Harder says the council won't vote on it this week, but has to make a decision by the end of the month.

If approved, the idea would have to go before a vote of the people in November to change the county charter.

The public can weigh in at Tuesday's hearing at 3:30 p.m. in council chambers in Clayton.