The Black Diamond recall attempt against Councilwoman Pat Pepper continues to roll along after the state Supreme Court ruled against a motion to stay signature collecting.

Pepper filed two motions with the court on June 27. The first asked the court to halt signature collection by Neighbor to Neighbor, the group heading the recall effort against Pepper and headed by Black Diamond residents Robbin Taylor, Johna Thomson and Craig Goodwin.

Pepper’s second motion requested the court stick to their original hearing schedule instead of an expedited schedule, which the court agreed to on June 12. The original schedule could stretch the out to February 2018, while the expedited schedule set an en banc (all justices) conference for Sept. 7, 2017, although there is no ruling deadline.

The state Supreme Court denied both of Pepper’s motions on July 11.

According to Thomson, Neighbor to Neighbor’s spokeswoman, the group has collected more than 500 signatures, exceeded the state requirement of 370.

“These are verified as BD city voters — we’re cross checking all signatures to catch any problems with addresses, etc,” Thomson wrote in an email. “We are continuing to collect as many signatures as possible, working door to door talking to citizens, answering questions and inviting them to sign.”

To push back against this recall attempt, a new group — Bogus Recall, headed by Black Diamond residents MaryAnn and Bill McDermand and Glenn and Judy Carrier — has started publishing information online and putting up competing signs around the city.

“We whole-heartedly continue to back Pat Pepper and support her through this process. This city needs her to continue on as a council member,” they wrote in a joint email. “She is looking out for the needs of the citizens, and is not controlled by the developer. We are upset at the harassment from the developer and the mayor that she has endured, while her research and hard work have been ignored.”