Mo. Rev. Stat. § 78.440
All laws governing any city under its former organization and not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 78.430 to 78.640 shall apply to and govern such city after it adopts the form of government herein provided, or all bylaws, ordinances and resolutions lawfully passed and in force in any such city under its former organization shall remain in force until altered or repealed by the council elected under the provisions of said sections. The territorial limits of such city shall remain the same as under its former organization, and all rights and property of every description which were vested in any city under its former organization shall vest in the same, under the organization herein contemplated, and no right or liability either in favor of or against it existing at the time, and no suit or prosecution of any kind shall be affected by such change unless otherwise provided for herein. The operation of any of said sections governing cities of the third class, which may be inconsistent with the provisions of said sections, shall be suspended in those cities adopting the said sections.
§ 78.440, RSMo