Voters in South Ottawa Township may be joining those in several other townships in voting whether to remain in what is left of the La Salle County Forest Preserve District.

South Ottawa Township Road Commissioner Wayne W. Pike filed petitions Thursday at the La Salle County Circuit Clerk's office to have a referendum put on the township's ballot Tuesday, Feb. 2. In April, 26 of the county's 37 townships voted to leave the preserve district. Now with the inclusion of South Ottawa, voters in 10 more townships have taken action to also withdraw. The only remaining township as of Friday was Bruce, which takes in most of Streator.

Petitions for two townships that opted out in April — Serena and Fall River — have been filed to have a referendum to rejoin the preserve district.