Measure T lawsuit narrows to Collin v. SLT

By Kathryn Reed

There is now only one defendant in the case initiated by South Lake Tahoe City Councilman-elect Jason Collin in regards to the loop road.

This is the strategy concocted by Collin’s attorney.

“He said since the measure passed, it is the appropriate thing to do,” Collin told Lake Tahoe News.

The lawsuit was filed in July to prevent Measure T from going on the November ballot. It named supporters of Measure T in the filing. Those individuals are now no longer a party to this legal matter.

“Right now I have no standing to speak because I have been dismissed,” Bruce Grego told Lake Tahoe News. As of Friday afternoon he had not decided if he would still attend Monday’s hearing.

In August, 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.

Voters approved Measure T, which in essence says voters will get to have a say in the loop road and it won’t all be up to the City Council – assuming the council ever has a vote in the matter.

On Dec. 5 there will be a court hearing in Placerville to decide how to go forward with the lawsuit.

“What we need now is the judge to give it clarity to say what the measure means. I’m not sure if he will do that Monday or if he will set another date to do that,” Collin said.

Ironically, Collin will take the oath of office to be on the South Lake Tahoe City Council a week after the hearing. He will not be allowed into the closed session meetings pertaining to the case.