By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – A controversial eminent domain case in Clayton will not go before city voters in June.
A St. Louis County judge Wednesday ruled against a group that wanted the court to force the city to put the Centene Plaza development proposal on the ballot.
They had argued that the Clayton Board of Aldermen violated the city charter by introducing and approving the deal during the same meeting.
But Clayton city attorney Kevin O'Keefe says the judge's decision upholding the board's actions is correct:
"The court says that they conducted themselves correctly, that the ordinance is not subject to referendum," O'Keefe said. "I see no reason for that judgment to change in any count in any court."
The attorney for the plaintiffs says his clients are likely to appeal the ruling. However, that could take several months because the court must still resolve another claim in the case.