Hannibal may look to voters to fund storm water utility

The question of how to fund Hannibal’s storm water utility returned for a second discussion during Tuesday’s meeting of the Hannibal City Council. The utility is currently unfunded and voters have twice rejected funding proposals.

After some discussion between council members, members of the Hannibal Board of Public Works and city staff, council decided to meet with the HBPW next Tuesday in council chambers to begin the development of a proposal that will be palatable to voters. The issue could possibly show up on the April 2022 ballot.

Council heard and approved several resolutions during the meeting including two dealing with the proposed renovation of the former St. Elizabeth’s Hospital into senior housing. The first resolution included a letter of support for the adaptive reuse and donation of city owned property to 3 Diamond Development, LLC. The second authorizes Mayor James Hark to execute a purchase and sale agreement along with any other necessary documents with 3 Diamond Development, LLC relative to the former hospital property. City Manager Lisa Peck said the resolutions and the purchase and sale agreement are necessary documents for the developer’s application for grants to fund the project.

In other action, the council approved the appointment of Megan Rapp as the Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Rapp, who has been working in the HCVB for about 12 years, succeeds Gail Bryant who left the Bureau at the end of last month to seek other opportunities. Bryant had been on the job since the summer of 2011.

Council also approved the acquisition of 13 Marion County Trustee properties. The properties were left over after a third attempt by the county to sell them at a tax sale. Hannibal Central Services Director Andy Dorian said the City already has the cost to mow and maintain these properties. Dorian also noted the purchase of the properties allows the City to attach its covenants to the title before re-sell. The City will then market the properties to neighbors or other interested buyers.

And another issue revisited by council members was the donation of six properties to Northeast Community Action Corporation. NECAC wants to build six homes in Hannibal for low income residents. Last month council members agreed to donate six properties to NECAC, but after a site visit by NECAC’s architect, other city owned properties were deemed more appropriate. Those new properties were approved by the city council for donation.