Colorado Town of Hartman Declared Abandoned After All Officials Resign Amid Water Crisis

Colorado’s Secretary of State has formally declared the town of Hartman abandoned following the resignation of all remaining elected officials, state documents revealed this week. The determination came after a public hearing established that the town of 30 people in southeast Colorado lacked a functioning Board of Trustees, Town Clerk, and capacity to hold municipal elections while simultaneously managing critical water infrastructure.

Deputy Secretary of State Andrew Kline issued the abandonment order, citing the state’s inability to address the public health emergency through conventional legal mechanisms. “Abandonment is the only legal mechanism in Colorado statute that creates an avenue for residents of the area to receive clean water,” Kline wrote, emphasizing that the determination was necessary to break a cycle of administrative paralysis during an ongoing health hazard.

The town’s government collapsed in January when three active trustees resigned following a physical altercation between four women at a board meeting. One departing trustee, Pam Packer, told The Denver Post that “our safety was more important than having a government.” The mayor had already resigned in October, leaving the municipality without leadership amid ongoing embezzlement allegations and restraining orders.

A resident submitted an abandonment application in mid-June detailing severe water system failures. According to the petition, Hartman had operated without chlorine for over a month, rendering water non-potable and odorous, while the town remained under a boil-water advisory dating to October 2025.

Eric Bergman, director of the Division of Local Government for the Department of Local Affairs, testified that his agency had visited Hartman more than 30 times since 2022 to assist with elections, personnel transitions, budgets, and audits. Despite these interventions, no authorized government officials remained capable of approving contracts, spending funds, or making decisions regarding the water system.

The water infrastructure presents an immediate threat to public health. The tank is compromised and requires repair or replacement, while the system lacks operational oversight. State and federal grants exceeding $1 million allocated for water system improvements cannot be accessed without government officials to execute contracts, officials stated.

Following the abandonment declaration, Prowers County will assume ownership of municipal streets and alleys not held by third parties. The county will also take possession of water infrastructure and transfer it to an entity whose primary purpose involves water treatment or delivery, establishing a pathway for residents to access clean water services.