Colorado has wiped a town off its books—at the town's own request. Hartman, a southeastern community of about 30 people, has been formally declared abandoned, with the Secretary of State approving a resident's petition that shifts all municipal responsibilities and assets to Prowers County. The move follows months of gridlock after every elected official resigned in the face of personal feuds, fraud accusations, and even a post-meeting scuffle, the Denver Post reports. With no functioning government, Hartman couldn't hold elections or tackle its failing water system, which has been under a boil order for a year and needs major repairs.
Lawmakers crafted a bill this spring to handle Hartman's situation, clearing a path for towns to be dissolved and for the state to step in on water issues. The state's 15-page order argued that declaring Hartman abandoned was the only way to restore clean water, despite objections from residents who said the town was "failed by the systems designed to protect it." Prowers County will now control Hartman's streets and property, while handing over the water system to a professional operator—something outside agencies had previously been reluctant to do because of the town's contentious reputation. The Courthouse News Service points out that, in addition to the townspeople, Hartman is home to "several beloved dogs, a New Deal-era gymnasium, two vintage but sturdy playgrounds and a 100-year-old water tower in desperate need of repair."
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