Colorado small town abandoned after all elected officials resign, water concerns grow

A small town in Colorado has been declared abandoned by the state after its remaining elected officials resigned, leading its troubled water system to become a “health hazard” to its residents, according to state officials.

The Office of the Colorado Secretary of State said the determination was made this week after a public hearing showed that “the Town of Hartman had no Board of Trustees or Town Clerk, was unable to hold a town election, and owned infrastructure critical for the treatment or delivery of water to residents.”

“Importantly, not determining that the Town of Hartman is abandoned as contemplated by § 31-3-201(1)(b), C.R.S. (2026), would leave the residents in further legal limbo during a health hazard, with no authority to conduct business, hold elections, or fix their water infrastructure so that clean water can be delivered to the town residents,” Deputy Secretary of State Andrew Kline wrote in an abandonment order. “Abandonment is the only legal mechanism in Colorado statute that creates an avenue for residents of the area to receive clean water.”

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Hartman, which has a population of 30 in southeast Colorado, saw its three active trustees resign in January, a day after a brawl erupted between four women following a board of trustees meeting, according to The Denver Post.

“Our safety was more important than having a government,” Pam Packer, one of the trustees who resigned, told the newspaper, which also reported that the mayor resigned in October and that Hartman previously was grappling with embezzlement allegations and restraining orders.

Kline said in the abandonment order that in mid-June, “Ms. Jessie Simmons, a self-attested resident, landowner, and elector of the Town of Hartman, submitted a written application to the Secretary of State for determination of abandonment for the Town of Hartman alleging that the town does not have a board of trustees or town clerk, is unable to hold an election, and owns and operates water infrastructure needed to treat and deliver water to residents.”

“Ms. Simmons further asserted that as of time of her application, the Town of Hartman had lacked chlorine in its water for over one month and the water was not potable and ‘smells horrible.’ She stated that the Town of Hartman had been under an order to boil water for months,” he wrote.

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At a hearing on July 13, Eric Bergman, the director of the Division of Local Government for the Department of Local Affairs, “testified that he has regional managers throughout the state, and one in Southeast Colorado that has worked extensively with the Town of Hartman for the last 5 or 6 years,” according to Kline.

“Mr. Bergman also testified that since 2022, DOLA representatives have been in the Town of Hartman over 30 times helping with elections, turnover, recalls, resignations, budgets, audits, grant administration, and training of new officials. In January of 2026, DOLA received letters of resignation from each of the town’s then-Trustees. Since the resignation of these elected officials, no government officials or government remain in the Town of Hartman,” the order stated.

“There are no government officials in the Town of Hartman who are authorized to approve contracts, spend funds, appoint replacements, certify elections, or make decisions regarding the Town of Hartman’s water system. Mr. Bergman testified there is also no clerk or governing body to call, conduct, or certify a municipal election,” it continued.

“According to Mr. Bergman, the Town of Hartman is facing a public health threat. Mr. Bergman testified that the Town of Hartman has been on a boil advisory since last October 2025, and the water currently needs testing and chlorine. The water tank is compromised and needs repair or replacement,” Kline also wrote in the order. “There is no one operating the water system at this time. DOLA, along with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment had previously provided grants for more than $1 million to the Town of Hartman to work on the water system. Those funds were reimbursement-based. However, without government officials, the Town is unable to enter any contracts that would enable it to access the grant funds.”

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The Office of Colorado’s Secretary of State said that, following the abandonment order, “All existing streets, avenues, and alleys previously located within the abandoned town that are not owned by a third party shall be vested in the Board of County Commissioners of Prowers County,” and that “Ownership of water infrastructure critical for the treatment or delivery of water to residents shall be vested in Prowers County, which shall transfer said infrastructure to an entity whose primary purpose is water treatment or delivery.”