City names new director for development services

Ken Eftink has been named Cape Girardeau's new development services director. Eftink's start date is Sept. 17. He replaces Kent Bratton, the city planner who retired July 31.

The job is slightly different: It's an expanded department-head position leading divisions for planning, engineering and inspections.

For the last seven years, Eftink was the city administrator for Ashland, Mo., a city of 3,000 near Columbia. His experience includes 11 years as Cape Gir­­ar­deau's development and planning coordinator and seven years with the Cape Girardeau County Mapping and Appraisal Office.

A graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri Academy for Leadership in Local Governance, Eftink, with his wife Becky, will be relocating to Cape Girardeau in the next 30 days.

Doug Leslie, Cape Girardeau's city manager, said in a statement that Eftink "is very knowledgeable, and is committed to public service."