Leadville Mayor Bud Elliott, who's running for the Lake County Commission, accused the current commissioners Wednesday of holding secret meetings about how to respond to 1 billion gallons of toxic water trapped in a drainage tunnel near Leadville.
The three county commissioners, Mike Hickman, Ken Olsen, and Carl Schaefer, announced a state of emergency during a Feb. 13 public meeting, citing fears that rising water pressure in the Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel could cause a blowout, flooding homes and businesses below.