A rural Colorado town of 30 residents faces an unprecedented crisis after its entire government resigned in January, leaving no one to maintain critical water infrastructure or hold elections for new leadership.
The town of Hartman, located 10 miles from the Kansas border and approximately 200 miles from Denver, saw its last government meeting dissolve into physical violence on January 23. The altercation resulted in misdemeanor charges, hospital visits, and the immediate resignation of all board trustees. Without a mayor, board members, or town clerk to organize elections, the community now exists in administrative limbo.
State Senator Rod Pelton has introduced the Determination of Town Abandonment bill to address the crisis. The legislation passed unanimously through the Colorado Senate Committee on Local Government & Housing on Wednesday, offering a potential solution to what officials describe as an unprecedented situation.
The bill would accelerate the process for declaring the town officially abandoned, bypassing current regulations that require a five-year waiting period from the last election. Under existing law, neither the county nor state authorities can intervene to run municipal elections in statutory towns, creating a legal deadlock that prevents any immediate resolution.
Hartman’s water system presents the most urgent concern. The town relies on a 100-year-old water tower and groundwater pump system that requires regular maintenance and operational oversight. Without a functioning government, no one has the authority to hire water operators or pay utility bills. Pre-paid electric funds for the water pump are expected to run out between June and August, potentially leaving elderly residents without running water.
Governor Jared Polis has pledged to send water trucks if the situation reaches crisis point, while various state agencies work to find permanent solutions. The proposed legislation would allocate $100,000 to maintain the water system for six months and allow the county to hire temporary water operators.
During a community meeting in nearby Holly on Saturday, Prowers County Administrator Don Wilson encouraged residents to support the measure despite concerns about abandoning their town’s incorporated status. The meeting revealed deep divisions among residents about the town’s future, though most agreed that maintaining water access remained the top priority.
Eighteen-year-old resident Emilee Selman emphasized the urgency of accepting the proposed solution, stating she didn’t want to relocate and viewed the bill as the only viable option for remaining in Hartman. A handwritten petition signed by 16 Hartman residents and five Holly residents expressed support for the legislation.
However, not all stakeholders agree with the approach. Jammie Darrell, a Denver resident who owns property in Hartman inherited from her elderly mother, testified against the bill at the committee hearing. She argued that the legislation fails to address broader systemic issues affecting small, aging rural communities and questioned whether the narrative of local conflict was being used to force an unwanted solution.
Maria De Cambra, executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, reported that her agency has made dozens of visits to Hartman since 2020, providing training and support to local officials. She characterized the current bill as the best available option given the unprecedented circumstances.
Resident Dawn Railsback has separately petitioned the Prowers County District Court to order new elections, submitting documentation from residents who attempted to file candidacy papers before the government’s resignation. However, Judge Tarryn Johnson has given Railsback 30 days to explain why the case shouldn’t be dismissed.
The legislation now faces a tight timeline with only three weeks remaining in the legislative session. If passed, it would establish a new legal framework for addressing similar crises in small towns with failing infrastructure and collapsed governments. The bill represents both an immediate lifeline for Hartman’s water supply and a potential precedent for handling municipal failures in rural Colorado.
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