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Colorado Declares Town of Hartman Abandoned Amid Water and Leadership Crisis
Just the facts
The office of Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold formally declared the town of Hartman, Colorado abandoned following a collapse of local governance and an ongoing municipal water emergency. All elected members of Hartman's board of trustees and the town clerk resigned after severe political infighting, leaving the municipality without leadership or the capacity to conduct local elections. The town, located in Prowers County with a population of under 60 residents, had been subject to a boil-water advisory for months due to unchlorinated water and decaying water infrastructure. The formal abandonment determination allows critical public infrastructure responsibilities to be transferred from the dissolved municipal government to Prowers County authorities.
Why this is news
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold issued a formal order declaring the town of Hartman abandoned after all municipal officials resigned and local water systems failed. The decision follows a petition submitted by local residents seeking county intervention to address unsafe drinking water.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.