Colorado town abandoned after all public officials resign, drinking water ruled health hazard

A small Colorado town plagued by fraud allegations and violent altercations was deemed abandoned after all elected officials resigned from their posts and the local water became a health hazard to the citizens.The former statutory town of Hartman, CO, with a population of 30 and little more than a town hall and a post office, was declared abandoned by Secretary of State Jena Griswold on Wednesday.“Yesterday, the Colorado Department of State issued a formal determination that the Town of Hartman has been abandoned pursuant to 31-3-201 C.R.S.,” Griswold’s office announced.The town had been without any form of government since January 14 when the three remaining board trustees resigned, a day after a violent brawl broke out between four older woman following a tense board meeting, the Denver Post reported.The state’s declaration came two weeks after a Hartman resident applied for the abandonment because there were no elected officials to govern and run the town, including providing a proper water supply for the remaining citizens.“The Town of Hartman had lacked chlorine in its water for over one month and the water was not potable and ‘smells horrible,’ the application stated on June 17.Residents of Hartman, located on the southeast side of Colorado near the Kansas border, had been subject to a water boil order since at least February.“The application alleges 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,” the application stated.Hartman had been provided with over $1 million in grants to work on the water system, but the town was unable to secure any contracts to enable the grants since there was no government.A hearing led by Colorado’s Deputy Secretary of State Andrew Kline was held on July 13, where residents voiced evidence and testimony both for and against the abandonment application.On July 28, Kline publis...