Hannibal City Manager Resignation

Hannibal City Manager Lisa Peck has resigned from her position and will take over as city manager in Salem, Ill., June 2.

During her almost six-year tenure in Hannibal, she successfully secured millions in grants, improved financial reserves and led key infrastructure projects, demonstrating her ability to balance fiscal responsibility with community growth.

I wish the good people of Hannibal the very best, and I have enjoyed working with staff and elected officials here,” Peck said, “This has not been an easy decision, and I want to express my deep gratitude for the opportunity to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team. I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together and I have the utmost confidence that you will continue to thrive in the future.”

Mayor Pro-Tem Mike Dobson said, “The departure of City Manager Lisa Peck is Hannibal’s loss. In a little over five short years, she built our reserves back up, oversaw large capital projects and worked to obtain grant funding for several projects that brought in more than $12 million.  She has been a fighter to remove the blight that is St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and I am disappointed that she won’t be here to see that through.  She worked countless hours trying to obtain funding for redevelopment, and when that fell through, for demolition.”

Mayor Barry Louderman said he is sorry to see Peck leave and appreciates the accomplishments during her tenure. “When she was hired, Hannibal had no money in reserve, we were more than $2 million in debt and we had a bond rating at a negative. Now in five years we have an AA bond rating, two healthy reserve accounts and an Infrastructure account with a little more than $2 million for large projects.”

He said she played a crucial role in leading the city through the COVID-19 crisis. “She thoughtfully used the city’s COVID funding where others spent it as fast as it came in.”

Louderman added that Peck combined strategic planning and careful management to find financial solutions. “She just negotiated a new lease with General Mills that saved the city $500,000. Also, she’s brought in more grant money to this city than the five previous city managers combined, including the $12 million for the stormwater project currently under way. “

Louderman said it will be difficult to replace Peck, whose last day with Hannibal is May 13. The City Council will vote on naming an interim city manager at a special meeting Tuesday, March 25.