A small town in southeast Colorado has been declared abandoned by Colorado’s secretary of state after the entire board of trustees resigned, leaving the 30 remaining residents with no elected officials.
Hartman, Colorado, is located near the Kansas border and has been unable to hold an election since January, leaving no leadership to manage the town. Due to the lack of government oversight of the water system, the infrastructure has fallen into disarray and has been labeled a “health hazard.”
Deputy Secretary of State Andrew Kline handed down the abandonment order on Wednesday, citing the town’s lack of government as the reason for the designation.
“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,” Kline said in his order.
The Denver Post reported on the struggle in Hartman in March, when a “brawl” erupted following a board of trustees meeting. The local government had been in turmoil as members threw around allegations of embezzlement, filed lawsuits, and obtained restraining orders against each other, the outlet reported. There had previously been failed votes to dissolve the town.
The Hartman mayor resigned last year, leaving just three trustees in charge. By the end of January, there were no elected officials remaining.
Kline’s order noted his designation came after one of the town’s few residents submitted an application to have the town deemed abandoned.
“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,” Kline said.
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Now that the town has been labeled as abandoned, the Prowers County Board of County Commissioners will handle infrastructure and be responsible for addressing the community’s water issues.
Legislators whose districts include Hartman sponsored a bill earlier this year that changed the circumstances for a town to be declared abandoned. Previously, the designation was only for towns that failed to hold an election, elect officers, or maintain town government for five years, but the new legislation includes towns with no board of trustees or clerk that are unable to hold an election and own or operate infrastructure critical for the treatment or delivery of water to residents.