Hannibal residents could see fireworks ordinance change in time for Fourth of July

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Robert Koehn, 3rd Ward Council Member, brought the issue of fireworks to the floor for the third time at Tuesday night’s Hannibal City Council meeting.

“This was a subject that’s come up again … It’s come up twice for discussion and been tabled both times,” Koehn said. “We owe it to the citizens of Hannibal to vote it either up or down, yay or nay.”

The current ordinance prohibits the sale and discharge of fireworks within city limits with a handful of exceptions, such as for military activities or for the use of flares for signaling purposes. Koehn proposed adding an exception that would allow fireworks to be discharged on private property within city limits between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. on July 3, 4 and 5.

Following concerns of fire hazards raised by Hannibal Fire Chief Ryan Neisen and various council members at a meeting last month, council members amended the proposed ordinance to add that the person discharging the fireworks must be at least 18 years old while following the package instructions and having a sufficient fire extinguisher on hand.

With the additional provisions, no discussion was had on the matter, and a first reading was given. The council will vote on the matter at its July 1 meeting.

A first reading also was given to an ordinance that would amend the city’s charter regarding the closure of non-licensed businesses to provide further clarification to business owners on the appeal process.

The amended ordinance, drafted by city attorney James Lemon, adds three additional subsections that specify requirements of petitions for appeal and where they should be filed, that a written notice must be provided to the city and that the business must stay closed until a final determination is made.

Yet another first reading was given to an ordinance updating the design guidelines for the H-1 District, as developed by the Historic District Development Commission. April Azotea, 2nd Ward Council Member, raised concerns that the same construction standards were not being uniformly applied to all businesses in the district, leading some to have to “jump through extra, unnecessary hoops where others haven’t.”

Steve Ayers, a member of the commission and local potter who opened Java Jive in 2000 with his wife Linn Akers, explained that the district’s buildings were all constructed between 1838 and 1976 — a timeframe that saw immense technological advancement and significant changes in the way people lived, worked and built things. For that reason, establishing a comprehensive set of guidelines is difficult.

“What we try to do is to make rulings that are appropriate for each building,” he said. “We try to be as fair as we possibly can … I don’t want to stand in the way of business. I know how hard it is to operate a business, so I tend to try to get rulings done as quickly as we possibly can for individuals.”

Ayers described the commission’s goal as striking a balance between the historical integrity of each building and the available materials and demands of the present.

“We have a business district that sells history … It’s the businesses that save the buildings, not the rules. It is the businesses that function on the ground floors,” Ayers said. “So modern businesses have to be able to function in the buildings.”

A full copy of the new guidelines can be found in the meeting’s agenda packet.

The council approved a bid waiver for the Hannibal Convention & Visitors Bureau for media buys, along with a grant application for the Travel South International Showcase Scholarship. The showcase provides an opportunity for local tourist organizations to make their pitch to international travel agents. 

Tourism director Trisha O’Cheltree hopes next year’s FIFA World Cup, for which some games will be played in Kansas City, could bring international visitors to Hannibal.

The council approved a special warranty deed to allow a local couple to buy an 18.9-square-foot piece of city property for $500 to build a small staircase outside of a building they own to access an upstairs unit.

The final budget for fiscal year 2026 was approved by the council.

In other news, the council:

• Approved the reappointment of Frank Salter and Kristy Trevathan to the Mark Twain Home Board, both for terms to expire in November 2032;
• Approved the reappointment of Raymond Lee and Laura Judlowe as well as the appointment of Harry Graves to the Library Board, all for terms to expire in June 2028;
• Heard Mayor Darrell McCoy’s recommendation of appointment to the Hannibal Housing Authority for Justina Smith, for a term to expire in April 2029;
• Approved the appointment of 5th Ward Council Member Michael Fleetwood to the Planning & Zoning Commission;
• Heard interim city manager Andy Dorian’s recommendations of reappointment to the Hannibal Parks & Recreation Board for Quinton Heaton,  Beth Knight and Tom Batenhorst, all for terms to expire in July 2028;
• Heard Dorian’s recommendation of appointment to the Hannibal Development District Commission for Michelle Huseman, for a term to expire in May 2030, and to the Board of Public Works for Lucas Peters, for a term to expire in July 2029;
• Approved an airport hangar lease agreement with Redd Properties, LLC; and
• Approved a construction observation agreement with Klinger & Associates for $18,600 related to renovations to Central Park.

The meeting concluded with the council heading into its ninth closed session of the year. The meeting’s agenda suggested the subject matter involved pending litigation and sealed bids and related documents regarding the sale, purchase or leasing of real estate by the city.

A copy of the entire agenda packet for the council’s June 17 meeting can be found on the city’s website. The next meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in Hannibal City Hall Council Chambers on July 1.