New Computer Equipment Coming to Hannibal Police Dept

Police Chief Lyndell Davis says reliable IT components are essential to a modern day police department. The Hannibal City Council agreed Tuesday evening. Chief Davis received approval to spend just under $74,000 for computer upgrades including:

Replacement of 1 of the 6 main servers.
Upgrade of software and operating systems.
Replacement of older PC units, printers and projectors.
New and faster CISCO switches which speed up the transfer of data.

The council approved contracting with the low bidder CDW-G, a state-approved vendor. Davis says upgrading computer systems is one of the most important expenditures for the department, second to the purchase of vehicles. Most of the police fleet was replaced in the previous fiscal year.

Mayor Roy Hark also recognized Chief Davis and his officers for a job well done. Mayor Hark cited a letter received from the President of Ralls County State Bank. The letter praised Chief Davis and his staff for their quick response after the robbery of the Hannibal RCS branch. Davis told the council he was very pleased with his officers and also citizens who came forward with information that led to the capture of the suspect.

In other business, a roof replacement is approved for the Clemens Field grandstand. Parks and Rec Director Andy Dorian received approval to contract with the low bidder, Dyllon Marsolf Construction from Springfield, Missouri. Dorian told the council he conducted “due diligence“ in checking references before recommending the roofing company. The low bid of just under $106,000 has a $15,000 construction contingency that could lower the final cost closer to $90,000.

The council gave First Readings to 2 property issues, after no comments were voiced at Public Hearings just prior to the regular session. One establishes the city property tax rate for 2015. Finance Director Doug Warren says the proposed rate is $1.1678 per $100 assessed value. That compares to $1.1428 last year. The increase is due to an estimated $800,000 drop in total assessed value of all property in the Hannibal. Warren notes the rate comes in lower than the year 2010, when the levy was $1.218.

The second property matter pertains to 3.6 acres of land off Clover Road. Six property owners in the area have requested annexation into the city. The land borders the city limits. The proposed use is to make the owners' yards larger. The Bill received a First Reading.

City Manager Jeff LaGarce shared news that a flood buyout property at 929 Warren Barrett Drive (formerly Display Center) has now cleared Brownfield's groundwater and soil samplings by the Department of Natural Resources. A Bill received a First Reading that would authorize the city to execute DNR Environmental Covenants regarding future uses of the site. The covenants forbid residential use and use of the groundwater. LaGarce cautions the property still requires 3 more quarters of groundwater testing for DNR's Underground Storage Tanks Program.