CLAYTON, Mo. (KMOX) — There's a new effort underway to circumvent the process of implementing a St. Louis city-county merger.

Municipal League executive director Pat Kelly says Better Together's plan to hold a statewide vote on the proposed merger is "un-American".

"To take a local issue, the governmental structure of St. Louis City and County, to a statewide vote is a deliberate initiative to dilute the value of (local) voters," Kelly told KMOX's Brett Blume.

The Municipal League's plan calls for the establishment of a 19-member Board of Freeholders -- with nine members appointed by Mayor Lyda Krewson, nine by County Executive Steve Stenger and one by Governor Mike Parson. City and County voters would then vote on whatever plan the board comes up with.

Kelly says they're also planning town hall-style gatherings to discuss their plan.

"We believe that the residents of St. Louis City and County haven't had an opportunity to weigh in on the governmental structure of the city and county in a public, transparent, and open forum."

The Municipal League launched a drive to gather 20-thousand signatures in the city and county by mid-April. However, Kelly's convinced he can bring in more than twice that number.

Related: Better Together Unveils Its Plan to Merge St. Louis City, County