Six St. Louis County department heads have filed a lawsuit against the county council, an effort to block a ballot measure they say would let the council remove them from office.

Late last month, the St. Louis County Council approved a bill that would put a question also known as Proposition B on the April ballot. It asks the voters if they want to give powers to the council to remove the county counselor or any department directors with five of seven council member votes.

Page said the council's move violates county law. Only the county executive, he said, has the authority to hire and fire department heads.