ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Proposed legislation that was introduced Tuesday could radically change the form of county government and strip some power from the county executive if passed.

Councilman Mike Harder is the sponsor of the bill to change the county charter to hire a county manager in helping run the government.

“That will share some of the powers between the county council and the county executive. This person will be a nonpartisan person that will handle our day-to-day activities in the county,” Harder said.

The legislation would have to be approved by the council and voters. Harder says there’s a big need for change, as the county council has repeatedly butted heads with the county executive.

“The county executive has a lot of power we’ve found in the last couple of years. Because of that power, things have come to a halt on a lot of initiatives that the council has put together,” he said.

FOX 2 received the following response from Doug Moore with County Executive Sam Page’s Office:

“Our charter commission reviewed that proposal a few years back and did not support it, seeing it as an ineffective way to run government by leaving it in the hands of someone not elected by county voters. I have heard council members are skeptical of the change as well.”

Harder is hoping to get the measure passed by the council in August so voters can see it on November ballots.