{"id":2638262,"date":"2026-07-31T12:42:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T16:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorado-declares-small-town-abandoned-after-all-elected-officials-resign\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T12:46:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T16:46:20","slug":"colorado-declares-small-town-abandoned-after-all-elected-officials-resign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorado-declares-small-town-abandoned-after-all-elected-officials-resign\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado declares small town abandoned after all elected officials resign"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcolorado-declares-small-town-abandoned-after-all-elected-officials-resign%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2638262&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A small town in southeast Colorado, Hartman, has been declared abandoned by the state&#8217;s secretary of state after its entire board of trustees resigned, leaving only 30 residents without elected officials.The town has been unable to hold elections as January, leading to a lack of leadership over critical infrastructure, especially the water system, wich has deteriorated and is now considered a health hazard. Deputy Secretary of State Andrew Kline issued the abandonment order because there are no authorized officials to manage town affairs or keep the water infrastructure operational. The declaration was prompted by a resident\u2019s submission, highlighting the town&#8217;s inability to govern or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/clinton-harris-slam-trump-and-gop-over-government-shutdown\/\" title=\"Clinton, Harris slam Trump and GOP over government shutdown\">maintain essential services<\/a>.Following the designation, the Prowers County Board of County Commissioners will take over infrastructure responsibilities. Recent turmoil within Hartman\u2019s local government, including a mayor\u2019s resignation and internal conflicts, contributed to this situation. Legislation was also updated earlier this year to allow towns to be declared abandoned if they lack governance and own essential infrastructure like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/12-attorneys-general-fight-biden-epas-environmental-justice-rule-that-will-increase-energy-costs-even-more\/\" title=\"12 Attorneys General Fight Biden EPA&#039;s &quot;Environmental Justice&quot; Rule That Will Increase Energy Costs Even More\">water treatment systems<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A small town in southeast <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/colorado\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"767\">Colorado<\/a> has been declared abandoned by Colorado\u2019s secretary of state after the entire board of trustees resigned, leaving the 30 remaining residents with no elected officials.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/local-politics\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11435\">government<\/a> oversight of the water system, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/policy\/infrastructure\/\" data-type=\"category\" data-id=\"702\">infrastructure<\/a> has fallen into disarray and has been labeled a \u201chealth hazard.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4670826\/hartman-colorado-declare-abandoned-elected-officials-resign\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Colorado declares small town abandoned after all elected officials resign<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4670031\/top-republican-housing-priorities-major-bipartisan-bill\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Top Republican outlines housing priorities after major bipartisan bill<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4669368\/barack-obama-drops-2026-summer-playlist\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Obama drops new summer playlist<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deputy Secretary of State Andrew Kline handed down the abandonment order on Wednesday, citing the town\u2019s lack of government as the reason for the designation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere 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\u2019s water system,\u201d Kline said in his order.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2026\/03\/08\/hartman-colorado-water-elections\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2026\/03\/08\/hartman-colorado-water-elections\/\"><em>  Denver Post<\/em> <\/a>reported on the struggle in Hartman in March, when a \u201cbrawl\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Hartman mayor resigned last year, leaving just three trustees in charge. By the end of January, there were no elected officials remaining.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kline\u2019s order noted his designation came after one of the town\u2019s few residents submitted an application to have the town deemed abandoned.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMs. 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,\u201d Kline said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4670529\/what-to-know-ceuta-spanish-port-thousands-moroccan-migrants-swarming\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4670529\/what-to-know-ceuta-spanish-port-thousands-moroccan-migrants-swarming\/\">WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CEUTA, THE SPANISH PORT THOUSANDS OF MOROCCAN MIGRANTS ARE SWARMING<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s water issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Colorado declares Hartman abandoned after trustees resign<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2638263,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/iStock-506543964-e1785515887961.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[83501,6024,41226,83502],"class_list":["post-2638262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-abandoned-town","tag-colorado","tag-political-resignation","tag-small-town-crisis"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/iStock-506543964-e1785515887961.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2638262"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638262\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2638266,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2638262\/revisions\/2638266"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2638263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2638262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2638262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2638262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}