‘This was not the original plan’: Hannibal bar owner frustrated by storm sewer construction

HANNIBAL — Lisa Latta, owner of Tipsy Bricks Bar in Hannibal, brought two rows of supporters with her as she addressed the Hannibal City Council during Tuesday night’s meeting. 

Latta said recent construction on the city’s stormwater sewers has negatively impacted her business. She said the road to her bar was blocked for three hours during the Folk Life Festival on Oct. 19.

Inconsistent communication with the city also was a point of frustration for Latta. She said Mathew Munzlinger, director of operations for the Hannibal Board of Public Works, had initially told her there would be a meeting between her, the construction company and the board before construction starting. She said it never happened. She said she tried calling Munzlinger, but he never responded.

Munzlinger said he’d met with Latta “a couple times” and he attempted to return her calls.

“I’d like you to show me where you returned a phone call prior to me making Facebook posts (about the issue),” Latta said as she raised a pointed finger.

After roughly a minute of back and forth regarding discrepancies in communication, Latta turned to face the council again.

Latta said the construction crew does not work full days, nor does it work Fridays. Mayor Barry Louderman explained that was out of the city’s control because the work was done by a third-party company.

When she contacted the construction company, Latta said she was told the original plan — to complete the construction in smaller sections — was inefficient for them.

“It’s inefficient for me when my sales are down 80 percent,” Latta said. “This was not the original plan.”

Louderman assured Latta he would look into the issue further and get back to her.

In other action, the City Council:

• Renewed a contract for the next three years with OpenGov Software for $18,604.69 for the first year, $19,534.92 for the second year and $20,511.67 for the third year. The software is used by the building inspector’s office to track inspections and permit applications, which were previously tracked on paper. Homeowners and contractors can apply for a variety of permits and inspections with the software, such as a dumpster or demolition permit or a rental inspection.
• Approved a bid for $227,870 by Full-Service Roofing to replace the roof of the Hannibal Police Department, which was built in 1977. Police Chief Jacob Nacke said he believed the roof had been partially repaired only once throughout the building’s 47-year history.
• Approved an $18,000 bid from ProCare Tree Service to remove 23 hazardous trees throughout the city.
• Approved an $81,900 engineering agreement with Klinger & Associates to renovate Central Park at Fourth and Broadway. A portion of the agreement will be spent on the park’s bandstand, which has been standing for nearly a century. Andy Dorian, director of central services, said he hopes the renovation is finished by the Fourth of July.