City of Columbia announced William Rataj as the City’s next director of Housing and Neighborhood Services. He will step into the role on Sept. 29.

City Manager De’Carlon Seewood selected Rataj as the new director, according to a news release from the city..

"Rataj’s experience working in housing in Missouri will be beneficial to Columbia as we continue to explore implementing recommendations from our recent housing study, completed in partnership with Boone County," Seewood said.

Rataj has more than 29 years of experience in community development, according to the release. He has worked as director of housing with the City of St. Louis' Community Development Administration since 2014.

His previous roles include supervisor of housing programs, community development specialist II and com

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