The state’s top homeland security official will meet Friday with Denver Water and Summit County officials to help resolve a dispute over the water department’s closure of Dillon Dam Road.
Maj. General Mason Whitney, director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, offered to work with the two sides to resolve the dispute during a meeting on Wednesday night, said Lake Dillon Fire Rescue spokesman Brandon Williams.
“We are generating a list of recommended measures that we contend will be able to mitigate the concerns of the Water Board but also assure public access. That is what we are looking to the general to help us broker,” Williams said.
Whitney couldn’t be reached for comment.
Denver Water closed the road on July 8 over concerns that the dam could be a target for terrorists. No specific threats have been made against the dam and Summit County officials want it reopened to the public, Williams said.
Denver Water has provided keys to security gates that block the road to firefighters and rearranged concrete barriers to allow emergency vehicles access to the road. But that isn’t enough, said Williams.
“For 30 years that road’s default position has been open and we are looking to restore that,” he said.
Denver Water spokeswoman Stacey Chesney said the agency wants to work with Summit County to solve the problem.
“At this point all emergency vehicles have access to the road. We continue to work with them to address their concerns,” she said.
Tom McGhee: (303)954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
