Colorado Secretary of State declares the town of Hartman abandoned after local leaders resigned and water crisis worsened
The Colorado Secretary of State's office announced that the town of Hartman, a small community in southeast Colorado, has been officially declared abandoned. This decision follows a period of legal limbo where the town lacked a board of trustees or a town clerk, leaving it unable to hold elections or manage its critical water infrastructure. Jessie Simmons, a local resident and landowner, petitioned for the abandonment after the town's water supply became a health hazard, lacking chlorine and requiring a boil-water order for months. The town's government collapsed due to intense political infighting, embezzlement allegations, and a physical brawl between trustees. Under Colorado state law, abandonment is the only legal mechanism to transfer the town's assets and responsibilities to Prowers County. The county will now assume control of all streets and water infrastructure, eventually transferring the water system to a professional operator. While some residents, such as Shawna Casey, argued that the town was failed by the system rather than being a failed town, the state overruled these objections to ensure residents receive clean water.