Hartman, Colorado, a small community of roughly 30 residents in Prowers County, has been officially declared abandoned by the state after its entire local government resigned, leaving residents without access to clean drinking water and no one authorized to manage municipal affairs. The declaration from Secretary of State Jena Griswold came this week following a resident petition seeking state intervention for the town's failing water infrastructure.
The collapse of Hartman's government followed years of bitter political disputes between families that paralyzed decision-making. According to former Mayor Catherine Fernandez, longtime family rivalries consumed the town and prevented effective governance. "You had families fighting with each other because they thought this person was going to do the town evil, they thought that person wasn't going to work well with the town, and it was a complete mess," Fernandez told the Denver Post.
Residents have been under a boil-water advisory since February. A petition filed by residents seeking state intervention described the situation: "The Town of Hartman had lacked chlorine in its water for over one month and the water was not potable and 'smells horrible.'" The town previously received approximately $1 million in grants to repair its water system, but those funds went unused because no officials remained authorized to oversee the projects.
Tensions escalated in January when four women, most in their 60s and 70s, became involved in a physical altercation during a board meeting over the town's future. The following day, Hartman's remaining three trustees resigned, leaving the community without a functioning government. The town has no board of trustees, no town clerk, and is unable to hold an election under current conditions.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics frame Hartman's collapse as a cautionary tale about government dependency and local governance failures. They argue that the situation illustrates what happens when communities lose the civic engagement necessary for self-governance.
Some observers note that the town had received substantial grant funding—approximately $1 million—for water system repairs, yet no progress was made. This raises questions, they say, about accountability and whether federal infrastructure money reaches communities effectively without adequate local management capacity.
Local control advocates express concern that Hartman's case could be used to justify expanded state or county authority over small municipalities, potentially reducing community input in local decisions. They emphasize the importance of preserving local governance structures even when facing challenges.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive advocates point to Hartman's situation as evidence of the challenges facing small rural communities that lack resources and institutional capacity. They note that more than 93% of Hartman's residents live below the poverty line according to U.S. Census Bureau data, creating conditions where political dysfunction can quickly spiral beyond recovery.
State Democratic officials who supported the abandonment declaration argued it was the only available mechanism under Colorado law to ensure residents receive clean water. Deputy Secretary of State Andrew Kline stated that "abandonment is the only legal mechanism in Colorado statute that creates an avenue for residents of the area to receive clean water." This framing positions state intervention as a necessary safeguard when local governance fails.
Community advocates have called for increased state funding for small municipal infrastructure projects, arguing that federal and state grants alone are insufficient without administrative capacity to manage them. They note that similar situations likely exist in other small communities across rural America.
What the Numbers Show
Hartman has approximately 30 residents, according to available data. The town has no operating businesses other than a post office and town hall.
More than 93% of Hartman's residents live below the federal poverty line, based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates. This ranks Hartman among the highest-poverty communities in Colorado by percentage.
The town had previously received roughly $1 million in grant funding designated for water infrastructure repairs. Those funds remain unspent due to the absence of authorized officials to manage the projects.
Hartman has been under a boil-water advisory since February, and residents report the water has lacked chlorine for more than one month. The town's water system remains owned and operated by the municipality despite having no functioning government.
With the abandonment declaration now in place, the Prowers County Board of County Commissioners will assume responsibility for Hartman's roads and water infrastructure under state law.
The Bottom Line
Hartman becomes one of the few municipalities in Colorado history to be formally declared abandoned. The designation allows county officials to step in and address the immediate public health crisis involving contaminated drinking water, but it raises larger questions about how small communities can maintain essential services when political dysfunction overwhelms local institutions.
With Prowers County now overseeing Hartman's affairs, the priority will be restoring safe drinking water for residents. Longer-term questions remain about whether Hartman can rebuild any form of local governance or whether it will continue under county administration indefinitely. The situation is being watched by state officials as a potential model for addressing similar failures in other small Colorado communities facing comparable infrastructure and governance challenges.