By Kathryn Reed

Voters in South Lake Tahoe will have an opportunity to weigh in Nov. 8 on the controversial loop road.

Jason Collin, a candidate for City Council, lost his challenge Aug. 22 to have the initiative removed from the ballot. However, the case is not over.

El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Jim Wagoner ruled that Collin and his attorney did not provide enough reason to remove the question, and essentially said the voters have a right to cast a vote. If voters approve the measure, there will be a hearing before Wagoner on Dec. 5 to determine how to go forward. It could go to trial to determine the legal validity of the question.

(Wagoner heard the case because Judge Steve Bailey recused himself.)

Local residents brought forward the initiative that, if approved by voters, says the City Council cannot approve the loop road without a preferred alternative being OK’d by the voters. The loop road would reconfigure Highway 50 near the state line.

Named in Collin’s suit were the city, Bruce Grego, Bill Crawford and Laurel Ames. Originally John Cefalu was a defendant, but his name has since been removed because he is not actually on the ballot measure filing because there could only be three names.

Joseph Bochner represented the three individuals in court on Monday. While Crawford told Lake Tahoe News he is not a defendant in the case, Grego described himself as a defendant. They are listed as “parties in interest”, which gives them legal standing.

Neither City Attorney Tom Watson nor Collin returned a call.