Welcome to the City Manager’s Office

The City Manager's Office provides day-to-day administration of the City government and provides leadership and oversight of the administration of city services and activities. The City Manager oversees the work of all City departments and ensures that the City Council's mission, goals and policies are implemented throughout the organization.

The City Council, City Manager and the City Leadership Team are partners in defining and developing programs and projects important to maintain and enhance the quality of life for Cape Girardeau city residents.  It is through our staff, who are your friends and neighbors, that all services, projects and goals are accomplished.

KEN HASKIN

City Manager
Dr. Kenneth Haskin, MPA, ICMA-CM

Dr. Kenneth Haskin, MPA, ICMA-CM has over 25 years of progressive, responsible experience in public management as a senior level administrator. His educational background includes graduate of Brinkley High School (Arkansas), Bachelors in Management from Henderson State University (Arkansas), and Master’s in Public Administration from Webster University (Missouri). He is credentialed by the ICMA, an active member of the Arkansas City Managers Association and Texas City Managers Association, involved within the National League of Cities, and a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Board member.

Strategic planning, organizational management, collective problem solving, CIP/Infrastructure planning, financial/budgeting management, and communications are his major strengths. Prior to his involvement in municipal government, he served in the Little Rock, Arkansas area as Chief of Staff for the Pulaski County Circuit Court, Program Director for the Boys & Girls Club, and Case Manager for the Family Service Agency. Along with his tenures as city manager or assistant city manager, he has also served as economic development director and negotiated with many companies who either located or decided to remain within the city, i.e., Texarkana FedEx Distribution Center , a 150-acre water park and hotel/convention center, Cooper Tire, Inc. (planning to leave the city/stayed and expanded instead), Union Tank Car (resulting in over 3 ,000 jobs and millions in private investment).

Other achievements include numerous awards and multiple Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards from Government Finance Officers Association of the United States. He established Texarkana’s first Capital Improvement Plan, organized its first Tax Increment Finance District, and refinanced its Franchise Fee Bonds, lowering the interest rate and saving over $1.2 million. He established an incubator for small business growth with a Business Assistance and Incentive Program and the Texarkana Business Retention Program, decreasing the unemployment rate from 5.7 to 4.6 in less than three years. To utilize city funds more efficiently, he created Operation Restore, a water and sewer replacement plan, and One Street at a Time Program, a street rehab and restoration plan, and formed the Texarkana Workforce Initiative. He renegotiated the Public Safety Pension Plan, saving $10 million over the life of the plan. He regulated the City’s deficit by balancing its budget and implementing a strategic, conservative spending plan to stimulate economic growth, which ultimately increased the city’s fund balance from 40 days to 148 days and improved its bond rating to AAA.



Career Highlights At-a-Glance

  • Received many accolades and awards over the past 8 years, including multiple Certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States.Initiated the Texarkana FedEx Distribution Center.
  • Recruited Union Tank Car and other major industry resulting in over 3, 000 jobs and millions in capital investment.  Established the City's first CIP Plan (Capital Improvement Plan)Recruited new developers to Texarkana.
  • Created a public private partnership with developers to build a 150-acre Water Park and a Hotel/Convention Center.
  • Negotiated a multi-million-dollar incentive package between Cooper Tire Inc., and the City of Texarkana, Arkansas. 
  • Refinanced the City of Texarkana, Arkansas Franchise Fee Bonds, and it essentially lowered the interest rate and saved the city over $1.2 million.
  • Established an incubator for small business growth in Texarkana, Arkansas, and the unemployment rate decreased from 5.7 to 4.6 in less than 3 years.
  • Organized the City’s first Tax Increment Finance District (TIF).
  • Upgraded the City’s Bond Rating.
  • Operation Restore – water and sewer replacement plan.One Street at a Time Program - street rehab and restoration plan.
  • Constructed the Business Assistance and Incentive Program.
  • Formulated a new business friendly permitting system.
  • Formed Texarkana’s Workforce Initiative.Assembled the Texarkana Business Retention Program.




  • Contact Info
  • 44 North Lorimier Cape Girardeau, MO  63701
  • Telephone 573.339.6320
  • Email [email protected]

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