Mayor James Hark Talks About Re-Opening Hannibal on Y101

Missouri throws open its doors to business on May 4.  Hannibal Mayor Jim Hark released Hannibal's guidelines for resuming business, which is in-line with the governor's orders.  Y101 brought Mayor Hark to the morning show to answer some of your questions about the new way Hannibal will do business during the pandemic.  Here is the full interview:

Here is the written statement that Mayor Hark released with more details on the guidelines Hannibal will follow in the transition to re-opening with COVID-19 restrictions:

First, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the business owners, essential

workers, healthcare providers, emergency responders and citizens for their
efforts to navigate these past weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After careful deliberation with not only state and federal officials but also local
stakeholders, elected officials and leaders I am offering the following statement
regarding how Hannibal will proceed in the upcoming weeks.

First, I support the Governor’s Phase I plan and guidelines for the re-opening of
business. I feel it is important not only to the economic stability of the State but
also equally important to the citizens’ ability to assume some normalcy and
enjoyment of life.

Secondly, I recognize the Phase I plan is a soft opening; it is not a return to
business as usual that we were accustomed to just some 90 days ago. There are
many conditions and restrictions which businesses are challenged to face in order
to reopen all while maintaining a safe environment for their employees and
customers. The responsibility lies entirely upon the business owners to ensure
they meet the established guidelines and I am confident the businesses in our
community have the appreciation for their customers to meet those guidelines
and protect those who support their business.

We want all our businesses to come back strong. We also expect them to be
responsible in protecting the safety of their employees and customers.

I still maintain that the most effective way to prevent the spread of any virus is to
limit contact; not engage in unnecessary travel; and avoid large groups. With that
said, I am not restricting nor mandating any regulations beyond what has been
provided by the Governor.

I must stress to you however, it is incumbent upon every individual to take
appropriate precautions to minimize their own risk. Citizens should still wear
protective personal items, such as masks; and practice good hygiene habits as
well as social distancing while in public. For those who are uncomfortable going
out in public, there are still resources and services to accommodate you as well. I
am in hopes that the knowledge we have gained and practices we have adopted
will minimize the potential for unnecessary risk and exposure.
For a list of the Governors Phase I Plan, you may visit
https://showmestrong.mo.gov/
website as well as the City of Hannibal website, www.hannibal-mo.gov and
Facebook page. Additional resource documents are available at the Hannibal
Chamber of Commerce website, www.hannibalchamber.org ; and Hannibal
Regional Economic Development website, www.hredc.com.

Once again, thank you to all who have worked so diligently to mitigate the virus
and its impact on Hannibal. Let us continue to take care of each other as we move together; Hannibal Proud.