St. Louis County last week asked the state high court to hear its case against a Concord resident for not having trash service.

Assistant County Counselor Victor Melenbrink filed a motion July 14 to transfer the case against David Skaer to the Missouri Supreme Court.

The Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals on June 29 reversed a county circuit court’s guilty verdict against Skaer, who was cited last year for not having trash pickup.

Unincorporated residents are required to have an agreement for trash pickup with an assigned waste hauler as part of the county’s trash district program.

Skaer has said his household produces only recyclable waste and doesn’t need trash pickup.

While the circuit court at Skaer’s trial accepted as “common knowledge” that all households produce some amount of non-recyclable waste, the appellate court ruled last month that whether Skaer produced trash was a “key element” in the case against him, and that it was the county’s burden to submit evidence to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.

The county failed to do so, the appellate court contended.