Businessman Hunter Haynes selected to fill city’s vacant council seat

Published 2:13 am Wednesday, August 5, 2026

HANNIBAL — After interviewing four candidates to fill the open seat, the Hannibal City Council selected business owner Hunter Haynes to represent the city’s 2nd Ward through April.

Haynes, one of the owners of B&H Better Homes, LLC, commended Michael Fleetwood, the council’s 5th Ward representative, for taking steps on adding new housing for residents. Haynes said he would like to see a focus directed on improving existing housing along with adding new homes.

Through his company, Haynes has worked with the city in a number of projects, including laying the foundation for the new location of the Molly Brown home in the downtown historic district.

The council selected Haynes over three other candidates that the council admitted were all qualified in various ways. Richard Ferrell, Bob Yapp, and former Mayor John Lyng all answered questions from sitting council members before the board voted to have Haynes join them.

Haynes will hold the seat through April, when 2nd Ward voters will select a replacement to complete the term through 2028. According to Hannibal’s charter, a vacant seat can only be filled until the next scheduled municipal election, not through the end of the original term, allowing voters to voice their preference for their own representative.

Before selecting the new member, the council approved three bills that were up for a second reading. The first modifies the city’s public morals ordinances to make the sale, possession, or consumption of illegal substances for the purposes of altering mental states.

The change is being made to try and stay ahead of new substances being sold that may not have previously been covered under city ordinances.

A property at 4600 Stardust was approved for rezoning from one- and two-family residences to allow for multifamily housing. The council approved the change and the update for the city’s zoning map.

A block grant was also finalized with the council approving the agreement with the state’s Highway and Transportation Commission to covers costs associated with the upgrades to the airport’s fuel system.

With the full council seated following a formal closing of the previous session, the council approved a change-order to close out the Grand Avenue bin wall project. The change, adding $1,768 to the bill, relates to the erosion control system, comes after the project has ended. Grand Avenue has been reopened with new improvements in place to avoid dirt, mud, and rocks running down the hill onto the roadway.

The city also approved the purchase of a new restroom-trailer unit with four ADA-compliant restrooms for the Parks and Recreation department. City Manager Andy Dorian said the trailer would be set up to for public events to provide more facilities that would be available for those with disabilities along with all other attendees.

The trailer will cost $71,475. Dorian was asked about fees for set-up and tear-down, but he said that’s something the Parks department will discuss and decide. He did say that the trailer would not be available to rent since that would be competing with private companies that provide portable restroom facilities.

Finally, the board approved two additional purchases for city use. First, the council approved the expense of $124,654 for a 2027 Ford plow-truck and the requisite equipment. The council also approved spending $33,969.43 for a replacement of one of the city’s emergency sirens that’s over 40 years old.

Prior to the meeting adjourning, former 2nd Ward Councilmember April Azotea spoke with permission of the council, stating she believes she was forced off the council. She told the council that she feels Mayor Darrell McCoy overstepped his authority and she felt she was forced into submitting a resignation.

When Azotea reached the end of the designated five-minute public comment period, the council did not approve additional time for her to continue, instead moving to adjourn the meeting.