Eftink resigns as Cape's assistant city manager

Ken Eftink has resigned as Cape Girardeau's assistant city manager after four years of leading divisions for planning, engineering and inspections. The resignation was effective Monday.

Citing personnel issues, city manager Scott Meyer declined to discuss the circumstances. City engineer Kelly Green has been named interim development services director, although not interim assistant city manager, Meyer said.

Eftink had not been in his office at city hall for two weeks. When questioned about it last week, Meyer said Eftink was weighing some options. While Eftink did not return phone calls Wednesday, he categorized what was going on last week as an "awkward situation."

Eftink took over in 2007 to an expanded department head position, replacing the retiring city planner Kent Bratton. The following year he was promoted to assistant city manager. Seven years before working for Cape Girardeau, Eftink was the city administrator of Ashland, Mo.

Eftink had previously been employed by the city of Cape Girardeau from 1989 to 2000 as development and planning coordinator and was employed for seven years with the Cape Girardeau County Mapping and Appraisal Office. During his recent tenure with the city, Eftink had also been a candidate for the city manager's position before the Cape Girardeau City Council ultimately opted to hire Scott Meyer.

Meyer said he is still evaluating the best way to replace Eftink -- if he's replaced at all. While Meyer stressed that the work has yet to begin, there are several options.

"As we look at the possibility of doing things more efficiently, it may be the role of assistant city manager may fall differently or we may replace him and move things around," Meyer said. "Right now we're just busy trying to fill all the roles that he had in the short term."

The decision isn't imminent, he said, adding that it wouldn't be made in a matter of weeks.

"I think we have some time to look at it," he said. "It's not going to be days or even a week or two. We really haven't decided anything or done anything."

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO