科罗拉多州务卿办公室于7月29日宣布东南部小镇哈特曼（Hartman）为废弃地区，这是该州历史上罕见的行政决定[1]。这一宣布源于该镇长期的饮用水危机和公共领导层全面瘫痪。
哈特曼镇人口不足60人[1]，但面临严峻的基础设施困境。该镇饮用水供应已超过一个月缺少氯气处理，导致水质不适宜饮用且"气味恶劣"[1]。在废弃宣布前的数月内，居民一直处于沸水令之下[1]。更为严峻的是，镇内所有公选官员均已辞职，目前既无董事会也无镇书记[1]。
镇民杰西·西蒙斯于6月17日向州务卿办公室请求正式宣布该镇废弃[1]。州务卿办公室在其15页的宣布令中指出，"废弃是科罗拉多州法中唯一为该地区居民提供清洁水的法律机制"[1]。居民肖娜·凯西表示："哈特曼不是一个失败的镇。哈特曼是一个被设计来保护它的系统所背弃的镇。"[1]
Colorado's Secretary of State office declared the town of Hartman abandoned on July 29, 2024, after all elected officials resigned and the community faced a severe drinking water crisis.[1] Located in southeastern Colorado with fewer than 60 residents according to the 2020 census, Hartman had been without chlorine in its water supply for over a month, leaving the water undrinkable and foul-smelling, while residents endured a boil water advisory for months preceding the abandonment declaration.[1]
The administrative action represents a rare instance of municipal dissolution in Colorado history.[1] With no town board or municipal clerk in place, resident Jessie Simmons formally requested the Secretary of State's office to declare the town abandoned on June 17.[1] In a 15-page order, state officials determined that abandonment was "the only legal mechanism under Colorado law to provide clean water to residents of that area."[1] Shawna Casey, commenting on the situation, stated: "Hartman is not a failed town. Hartman is a town that was abandoned by the system designed to protect it."[1]