A judge has ruled that Galena’s mayor and six other city officials accused of misusing public funds will be tried together.

Mayor Dale Oglesby, five city council members and a former council member were indicted in June by a grand jury after the council authorized paying $100,000 in city money to settle a private lawsuit against Oglesby’s business partner.

District Court Judge A.J. Wachter ruled Friday the officials will not receive separate trials to avoid inconsistent verdicts. The trial was scheduled for Jan. 11.

The Joplin Globe reports that Galena City Attorney Kevin Cure says he expects the charges to be dismissed.

The grand jury was called after a petition campaign by citizens angered by plans by Oglesby’s business partner to build a landfill in Galena.