We certainly weren’t surprised last week after learning three trash haulers had filed suit against St. Louis County over the county’s new trash-collection program.

In fact, it was inevitable that at some point a lawsuit would be filed as county officials for months seemed to be daring someone, anyone, to sue them. It’s kind of a throwback to the Democratic-controlled County Council of the late 1990s that appeared to be more interested in promoting its own special interests rather than the welfare of the entire county.

That arrogance cost the Democrats their majority on the seven-member council until the balance of power again changed after the November 2006 election. Since regaining the majority, council Democrats and Democratic County Executive Charlie Dooley appear to be intent on promoting special interests over what’s best for the county as a whole.

As we’ve said before, while many of the goals county officials claim they want to attain with their trash-collection program are desirable and even admirable, the manner in which they have attempted to shove it down residents’ throats is appalling.

At issue in the lawsuit filed by American Eagle Waste Industries, Meridian Waste Services and Waste Management of Missouri is whether a state statute requires St. Louis County to issue a two-year notice to waste haulers before establishing trash districts in unincorporated areas.

Where have we heard that before?

That’s right, state legislators contended at a public hearing last month that the notification statute required the county to issue a two-year notice by certified mail to waste haulers before establishing trash districts in unincorporated areas.

But county officials, including County Counselor Pat Redington, countered that the notification requirement does not apply to St. Louis County because it is a charter county. That’s the same response we received on Friday when we contacted the county counselor about the suit. Which side is right? We don’t know, but for better or worse, the issue will be decided by the courts.

Providing trash haulers with a two-year notification of the county’s plan for trash collection doesn’t seem that unreasonable to us — nor did the notion of putting the trash-district issue to a vote.

We know County Executive Dooley has endorsed Barack Obama for president, but his unwavering arrogance to south county reminds us more of Hillary Clinton.