Mo. Rev. Stat. § 241.155: County commission may employ counsel, when.

The county commission of any county in this state owning swamp or overflowed lands may employ special counsel or attorneys to represent the county in prosecuting or defending any suit by or against the county for the recovery or preservation of the swamp or overflowed lands, and quieting the title of the county thereto and may pay the special counsel or attorneys reasonable compensation for their services, to be paid out of any funds arising from the sale of the swamp or overflowed lands, or out of the general revenue fund of the county.