KEN EFTINK TO LEAVE CAPE FOR ASHLAND

Ken Eftink is resigning as Cape Girardeau's development services coordinator to take a position as the first city administrator in Ashland, Mo., a largely residential community between Jefferson City and Columbia.

Eftink, 44, accepted the $50,000-a-year job Wednesday. He is scheduled to start July 17.

Eftink said Thursday he had been looking to relocate since his wife, Becky, was promoted to the U.S. Rural Development Agency's state office in Columbia last month.

She began her new job on May 8. "We have been sort of dating ever since," he said, explaining that they see each other on weekends.

The Eftinks have two daughters, Michelle, 14, and Kristi, 11. The family plans to live in Ashland.

Eftink said they had been considering living in Ashland even before he became aware of the opening for city administrator. He learned about the job opening while reading the newspaper.

Eftink was one of 24 applicants and three finalists for the job.

"It was just a matter of being there at the right time," he said.

Ashland Mayor Charlie Campbell told the Columbia Daily Tribute that experience was the deciding factor in hiring Eftink. Campbell said Eftink's experience in writing and securing grants and working in a growing city should benefit Ashland, which is seeking to establish sewer and storm-water systems that can handle the city's growth.

The city has a population of about 2,500. "It is growing fast," said Eftink. "A lot of new subdivisions are springing up. They are having a lot of growing pains."

Eftink said he was impressed with the city. "It is a smaller community, but it is a very progressive community."

The town has a planning and zoning commission and a major street plan.

The high school has a new track. The community has a swimming pool and is in the process of establishing a library.

Eftink is aware of development issues. He has handled flood-control, zoning, subdivision and storm-water issues in his job with Cape Girardeau. He began working for the city as its planning coordinator before becoming development services coordinator in 1993.

Prior to working for the city, he was director of mapping for Cape Girardeau County.

In his new position Eftink will manage a city with 16 full-time employees.

"I am not going to storm into Ashland and start telling them what to do," Eftink told the Daily Tribune. "At first I am going to do a lot of listening to what the people of Ashland want."