Voters in eight more La Salle County townships will have the chance to cut their townships free of what remains of the once countywide forest preserve district.

On Monday in La Salle County Circuit Court, Circuit Judge Eugene Daugherity ruled petitions for a referendum in the eight townships met legal requirements, so he ordered a referendum placed on the Tuesday, Feb. 2, ballot in those townships. Representing the eight townships was Don Jensen of Deer Park. Also present was Ottawa attorney Richard Burton.

The eight townships are Ottawa, Dayton, Eagle, Otter Creek, La Salle, Mendota, Ophir and Troy Grove.

In April voting, 26 of the county's 37 townships voted to leave the forest preserve. With the eight new ones on the February ballot, there are three townships as of Monday still in the forest preserve district, but without the question on the ballot: South Ottawa, Bruce and Meriden. Bruce takes in most of Streator and Meriden is between Mendota and Earlville.

Petitions were submitted three weeks ago to have voters in Fall River Township — south of the Illinois River between Ottawa and Marseilles — vote to return to the forest preserve district. Voters in the township opted out of the district in April. No hearing date is yet set.

Voters across the county approved the creation of the forest preserve district in November.