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Officials Quit, Water Fails: Colorado Town Declared Abandoned
Tiny Colorado Town Declared "Abandoned" After All Leaders Quit — Leaving Residents Without Clean Water
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What Happened in Hartman, Colorado?
Imagine a town so small that everyone knows everyone — only 30 people live there. Now imagine that every single person in charge quit at the same time. That’s exactly what happened in Hartman, Colorado, a tiny town in the southeast part of the state.
This week, the Colorado Secretary of State officially declared Hartman "abandoned." That’s a legal term that means: the town government no longer exists, and the county has to step in to fix things.
Why Did the Town Leaders Quit?
It wasn’t just one thing — it was a pile-up of problems:
- October 2025: The mayor resigned.
- January 2026: All three trustees (like town council members) quit the same day after a physical fight broke out between four women at a public meeting.
- Before that: The town was already dealing with embezzlement accusations (someone allegedly stole public money) and restraining orders between officials.
Pam Packer, one of the trustees who quit, told The Denver Post:
"Our safety was more important than having a government."
The Real Crisis: No Clean Water
Without a government, no one could run the water system. And that became a health emergency.
What Went Wrong with the Water?
| Problem | Details |
|---|---|
| No chlorine | For over a month, the water had no disinfectant. |
| Boil advisory | Since October 2025, residents had to boil water before drinking. |
| Smells terrible | One resident said the water "smells horrible." |
| Tank is broken | The water storage tank is damaged and needs repair or replacement. |
| No operator | Nobody is running the system at all. |
Important: The state says this is a public health threat. People could get sick.
Why Couldn’t They Just Fix It?
Even though over $1 million in state grants had been approved to fix the water system, the town couldn’t use the money.
The Catch: Reimbursement Grants
- The grants were "reimbursement-based" — meaning the town had to pay first, then get paid back.
- But with no officials, they couldn’t:
- Sign contracts
- Hire workers
- Spend money
- Even hold an election to replace the leaders
No government = no way to access the money to fix the water.
How Did the State Step In?
A local resident, Jessie Simmons, took action. She filed a formal request asking the state to declare the town abandoned under Colorado law (§ 31-3-201(1)(b), C.R.S.).
The Legal Hearing (July 13, 2026)
At the hearing, Eric Bergman from the Division of Local Government (DOLA) testified:
- DOLA had helped Hartman over 30 times since 2022 — with elections, budgets, audits, training, and more.
- Since the trustees quit in January, there is no one left who can:
- Approve contracts
- Spend funds
- Appoint replacements
- Certify elections
- Make decisions about water
What Does "Abandoned" Mean for Hartman?
It doesn’t mean the town disappears. It means the county takes over key responsibilities.
What Happens Next (Step-by-Step)
- Prowers County (the county Hartman is in) gets ownership of:
- All streets, alleys, and public roads (unless privately owned)
- All water infrastructure (pipes, tanks, treatment systems)
- The county must transfer the water system to an organization whose main job is water treatment and delivery — like a water district or utility company.
- That new operator can finally fix the water, use the grant money, and get clean water flowing again.
Why this matters:
Abandonment is the ONLY legal way in Colorado for residents to get clean water when their town government collapses.
Important Points to Remember
CALL OUT: THIS IS NOT NORMAL
Most towns don’t lose their entire government. But when they do — and critical services like water are at risk — the state has a "safety valve" law to protect people. That’s what happened here.
Summary
- Hartman, CO (pop. 30) lost all elected officials after a meeting brawl and ongoing safety fears.
- With no government, the town couldn’t run its water system or access $1M in repair grants.
- Water has been unsafe since October 2025 — no chlorine, smells bad, boil advisory in effect.
- Resident Jessie Simmons asked the state to declare the town abandoned.
- The Secretary of State agreed — now Prowers County takes over streets and water infrastructure.
- The county will hand the water system to a professional water provider who can finally fix it.
FAQ
Does "abandoned" mean the town is empty or gone forever?
No. People still live there. "Abandoned" is a legal status meaning the town government no longer functions — so the county steps in to keep essential services running.
Who will fix the water now?
Prowers County will take over the water system and transfer it to a water district or utility company whose full-time job is providing clean water.
Can the town ever come back?
Yes. If residents want to re-establish a government later, they can — but for now, the priority is safe drinking water.
Why didn’t the state just send someone to run the town?
Colorado law doesn’t let the state take over a town’s government directly. The abandonment law is the only tool that lets the county step in and fix infrastructure.
Is this common in Colorado?
Very rare. Most towns, even tiny ones, keep at least a clerk or a few trustees. Hartman is an extreme case caused by a mix of conflict, resignations, and long-term neglect.
Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.
