Full Breakdown
Hartman, Colorado Declared Abandoned Amid a Water-Safety Crisis
8/1/2026, 1:42:24 AM
Core Event: State Declares Town Abandoned
On July 28 2026 the Colorado Secretary of State issued an abandonment order for Hartman, a statutory town of roughly 30 residents in Prowers County. With no elected officials after the three trustees resigned on January 14 2026, the town could not approve contracts, spend funds, or manage its water system, prompting the state to use abandonment as the only avenue to restore safe drinking water.
Background & Context
Hartman’s governance collapse unfolded over several years. The mayor resigned in October 2025, and a physical altercation at a board meeting in mid-January 2026 led the three trustees to step down the next day, citing personal safety. Prior to the resignations, the town faced embezzlement allegations, lawsuits and restraining orders, discouraging external water-service providers.
Colorado law previously required a five-year period without elections before a municipality could be declared abandoned. In response, the legislature passed Senate Bill 26-157 on May 27 2026, creating an expedited pathway for towns that lack governing officials and operate critical water infrastructure. The bill, signed by Governor Jared Polis, authorized limited state funding to cover operating costs during the abandonment process.
Data & Statistics
- Population: ~30 residents.
- Water system: serves ~40 homes from a single tower.
- Grants: >$1 million in reimbursement-based grants from DOLA and CDPHE earmarked for repairs, but inaccessible without a functioning government.
- Boil advisory: in effect since October 2025; chlorine absent for over a month by the time resident Jessie Simmons filed her abandonment application on June 17 2026.
- Regulatory penalties: between 2023-2025, CDPHE issued penalties exceeding $100,000 for failures to maintain a certified operator, monitor contaminants, and repair tank defects.
Official Statements & Responses
The order noted that rejecting abandonment would have left residents in “legal limbo” during a public-health hazard.
Don Wilson, Prowers County administrator, said the town’s reputation with water operators is poor, making it difficult to attract a permanent operator. He added the county is exploring a temporary private-engineering solution while a long-term water district is considered.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents rely on bottled water. Shawna Casey described the daily burden of transporting cases and five-gallon jugs, noting that recent surgery and back problems make the task especially arduous. Former trustee Pam Packer said, “Our safety was more important than having a government,” reflecting the personal stakes that drove the collapse.
Criticism & Opposition
Three residents objected to the abandonment, arguing that procedural technicalities—such as recall actions initiated before the resignations and the timing of the board’s resignation just days before the scheduled 2026 municipal elections—were not adequately considered.
What’s Next
Prowers County’s Board of County Commissioners now holds title to all former town streets, alleys, and the water infrastructure. The county must transfer the system to an entity focused on water treatment or delivery. Officials are seeking a water-service operator; if none is secured within the next few days, a private engineering firm will manage the system temporarily. No specific timeline for restoring full service has been announced.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our safety was more important than having a government,” — Pam Packer
- “Hartman doesn’t have a real good reputation with the struggles they’ve had, and the feedback from a lot of water operators is they’re not interested,” — Don Wilson, Prowers County administrator
- “It has been left to individuals to supply their own water,” — Shawna Casey, resident
