HARTMAN, COLORADO — The Colorado Secretary of State formally declared the Town of Hartman abandoned on July 28, 2026, following the resignation of all elected officials and a prolonged failure to maintain potable water services. The determination transfers control of public infrastructure to Prowers County to address the health crisis affecting the municipality.

Deputy Secretary of State Andrew Kline published a 15-page order determining abandonment on July 28, 2026. The decision was issued pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes section 31-3-201, which provides the legal framework for dissolving municipal entities that cannot function. The office of the Secretary of State of Colorado was established in 1861 and holds the authority to make such determinations when local governance collapses.

The declaration came after Hartman had no board of trustees or town clerk at the time of the abandonment declaration. All elected officials in Hartman resigned from their posts, leaving the town without the legal authority to conduct business or manage its affairs. This vacuum prevented the town from addressing critical infrastructure failures, including a water system that had become a public health hazard.

Hartman residents were subject to a boil-water order starting at least in February 2026. Public documents stated the water was not potable and smelled horrible. The system lacked chlorine in its water for more than one month prior to June 2026, rendering it unsafe for consumption. Despite these conditions, the town could not act to repair the system because it lacked the governing body required to enter into contracts.

Hartman had been provided with over $1 million in grants for its water system. However, Hartman was unable to secure contracts to enable the water grants due to the lack of government. Without elected officials to sign agreements or oversee projects, the funding remained inaccessible while residents continued to rely on contaminated water sources.

The collapse of local governance followed a period of intense internal conflict. A violent brawl occurred between four women at a governing board meeting on January 13, 2026. The next day, the three remaining board trustees resigned on January 14, 2026. These resignations left the town without any elected leadership just days before scheduled municipal elections.

Jessie Simmons requested the formal abandonment of Hartman in a letter dated June 17, 2026. Deputy Secretary of State Andrew Kline held a hearing on the abandonment application on July 13, 2026, to review the request and hear from interested parties. During this process, three residents objected to the abandonment declaration proposal. Objecting residents cited technicalities including recalls taking place before resignations were filed and the board resigning days before the 2026 municipal elections.

Kline addressed the objections and the broader implications of the decision in his order. "Abandonment is the only legal mechanism in Colorado statute that creates an avenue for residents of the area to receive clean water," he said. He noted that not determining that Hartman is abandoned would leave residents in legal limbo during a health hazard with no authority to conduct business, hold elections, or fix water infrastructure.

"I understand and sympathize with the concerns presented by the Town of Hartman’s citizens, and I commend all parties for their willingness to engage with the democratic process and to try to solve the problem facing their town," Kline added. His statement acknowledged the difficulties faced by the community while emphasizing the necessity of the state's intervention to restore basic services.

Not all residents agreed with the characterization of the town's failure. "Hartman is not a failed town. Hartman is a town that was failed by the systems designed to protect it," said Shawna Casey, a resident. Her comment reflected a view that external structural issues, rather than local mismanagement alone, led to the dissolution.

Under the terms of the abandonment order, the Prowers County Board of County Commissioners will take control of all public roads and alleys in Hartman. Prowers County will also take ownership of existing water infrastructure critical for treatment or delivery. Responsibility for water infrastructure will be transferred to an entity whose primary purpose is water treatment or delivery, ensuring that specialized management oversees the restoration of safe water services.

Hartman had a population of fewer than 60 at the time of the 2020 US census. The small size of the community complicated its ability to maintain a robust local government, especially as political divisions intensified. With the town unable to hold local elections, the state intervention provided the only path forward for restoring essential services and legal standing for the remaining residents.

The abandonment of Hartman illustrates the limits of local autonomy when a municipality loses its governing structure. State law requires a functioning government to manage public funds, enter contracts, and ensure public health standards. Without elected officials, Hartman could not access over $1 million in available grants or address a water crisis that posed immediate health risks to its residents.

The transfer of infrastructure to Prowers County and a specialized water entity aims to resolve the legal and operational deadlock. This action ensures that residents have access to clean water and that public assets are maintained by bodies with the capacity to manage them. The case shows how state statutes serve as a backstop when local democratic processes break down completely, preventing communities from remaining in a state of permanent emergency without recourse.

Why It Matters

The abandonment declaration transfers control of Hartman's water infrastructure to Prowers County, enabling the use of over $1 million in previously inaccessible grants. Without this legal mechanism under Colorado Revised Statutes section 31-3-201, residents would remain in a governance vacuum unable to address potable water failures or hold elections. This action shifts responsibility for critical public health services from a defunct municipal body to an entity capable of executing necessary repairs and contracts.