ST. LOUIS — Alderman Cara Spencer wants the city to apply for a federal grant to hire a consultant to advise the Board of Aldermen on whether to lease St. Louis Lambert International Airport to a private management company.

Spencer, D-20th Ward, on Friday will introduce a bill which, if passed, would direct the city to apply for such a grant, which under federal law could be as much as $750,000.

Spencer, a foe of privatization, said aldermen need someone with expertise on the issue to provide an “unbiased look” at the issue.

She says that’s needed because of her contention that a team of consultants hired by the city’s top fiscal body, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, has an incentive to favor privatization.

One of those firms — Grow Missouri Inc., affiliated with retired investor Rex Sinquefield — will pay all of their advisory fees and will be reimbursed for them only if a deal goes through.