General Mills looking to expand following tax abatement from Hannibal City Council

HANNIBAL, Mo. — General Mills’ expansion project received a boost on Tuesday.

The Hannibal City Council approved a 50 percent abatement for personal and real property taxes for 10 years for the project.

Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council Executive Director Maria Kuhns first heard about the possibility of the General Mills plant’s expansion in April.

“Since then, I have been working with both the city and the company’s consultant to put together and submit an incentive package to increase the feasibility of the project in Hannibal,” Kuhns said.

The proposal also includes a local sales tax exemption on materials purchased for the project, which could include a 15,000-foot addition to the plant.

The city intends to take out bonds for the project on General Mills’ behalf, but before offering the bonds, Kuhns said the next steps are to work with the city attorney and special bond council to put together a cost-benefit analysis and plan for industrial development. The project will then be brought back to city council — likely in October — to consider an ordinance approving the bond documents.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with General Mills on this project,” Kuhns said. “They employee over a thousand people in our community with quality jobs and are involved with many local charities. This project gives the city an opportunity to play a part in solidifying General Mills’ future in Hannibal and could mean new jobs and additional property tax dollars for our taxing jurisdictions.”

In other business, the council:

• Tabled the discussion of amending the city’s ordinance banning fireworks. Councilman Robert Koehn brought the topic before the board, noting that every jurisdiction in Marion County can shoot off fireworks except for Hannibal. Under the amendment, Hannibal residents would be allowed to shoot off fireworks from 8 am to 10 pm July 3, 4, and 5.
• Approved Resolution No. 2512-24, authorizing Mayor Barry Louderman to execute a $8,900 engineering service agreement between the city of Hannibal and Klingner & Associates for the replacement of the roof at City Hall.
• Set a public hearing for the city’s property tax rate for 6:45 pm Aug. 20.
• Approved a traffic study to determine whether to alter the traffic lights at the Fourth and Fifth Street intersections at Broadway. The study will deem necessary or not a change to flashing yellow lights at these intersections.