HARTMAN, Colorado – The Colorado Department of State officially declared the small southeastern town of Hartman abandoned on Tuesday, a decision that strips the municipality of its independent status and transfers all assets and infrastructure, including its critical water system, to Prowers County. This unprecedented action follows the complete collapse of local governance and an escalating water crisis that left the community without functional leadership for months.
Hartman, a town of approximately 30 residents located near the Kansas border, has been without elected leadership since January. At that time, all members of its Board of Trustees resigned en masse, bringing an end to months of internal disputes that had paralyzed the town's ability to approve contracts, manage finances, appoint replacements, or address its deteriorating water system. Newsweek reported that the core of the crisis revolved around the town's aging water infrastructure, which residents described as increasingly difficult to maintain.
The gravity of the situation was underscored by a resident who filed the abandonment petition in June, citing persistent water problems. These issues included a boil order that had been in place since October 2025 and widespread concerns about the town's capacity to supply safe drinking water to its inhabitants. The leadership vacuum deepened following a contentious January meeting where disputes among officials over water-related issues reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation. According to Westword, former mayor pro tem Tammy Lucero and trustee Melissa Venegas were charged with misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace, subsequently receiving deferred sentences. Another trustee, Velma Cassanova-Cooper, reportedly experienced a medical emergency in the aftermath of the incident and required hospitalization. Following the confrontation, the remaining board members paid the town’s electric bill to temporarily sustain the water system before tendering their resignations.
With no mayor, trustees, or town clerk in place, Hartman found itself in an administrative limbo, unable to conduct elections, make crucial decisions regarding water system repairs, or secure external assistance. State officials acknowledged the unusual nature of the situation, noting that existing Colorado law previously lacked a swift mechanism to address a municipality facing a complete governmental collapse coupled with urgent infrastructure needs. To address this gap, a new law signed by Governor Jared Polis (D) was enacted, allowing the state to expedite abandonment proceedings for towns grappling with similar governmental failures and critical water issues. The Colorado Department of State emphasized that leaving Hartman in a state of legal uncertainty would have severely hampered residents' ability to secure the necessary authority and resources to repair their water system.
Under the state’s ruling, Prowers County will assume control of all town property and infrastructure, including the water system. This transfer is intended to pave the way for the system to be turned over to a qualified operator, ensuring that residents can once again access reliable and safe drinking water. The decision, however, was not without controversy among some Hartman residents. These individuals argued that the town should have been given the opportunity to restore its local government rather than face dissolution. Courthouse News reported that some residents traveled to the state hearing to voice their opposition to the abandonment petition, asserting that the community still possessed individuals willing to serve and rebuild. They contended that the community itself had not failed, but rather external systems had not provided the necessary support to keep the town operational. Opponents of the abandonment pointed to Hartman’s enduring history, including its resilience through historic challenges such as the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, as reasons why the town should not be allowed to disappear.
Despite these arguments, state officials ultimately determined that abandonment was the only legally viable path to address the town’s immediate and critical water problems. The ruling highlighted that without this decisive action, residents would have continued to suffer under a non-functioning government, facing ongoing obstacles in repairing their essential water infrastructure. The town’s final collapse came after years of internal strife, which included disagreements over financial management, election procedures, and overall town administration. The Division of Local Government had reportedly visited Hartman dozens of times since 2022 in attempts to mediate and assist with various issues, including elections, budgets, resignations, audits, and official training. With the state’s decision now finalized, Hartman will become part of unincorporated Prowers County, with the county overseeing its remaining assets and working towards resolving the water issues that ultimately led to the community losing its official municipal status.
