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Midvale Journal

Midvale City manager since 2005 announces retirement

Feb 22, 2021 10:41AM ● By Erin Dixon

City Manager Kane Loader sits in a conference room with Mayor Robert Hale. (Photo/Midvale City)

By Erin Dixon | [email protected]

Kane Loader, having worked for Midvale City the last 32 years serving the last 16 of them as its city manager, announced his retirement in early February during a city council meeting.

“Your fingerprints are going to be around for a long time on this city…,” Mayor Robert Hale told Loader.

Both elected officials and residents alike expressed their admiration for Loader’s work and dedication.

“There’s not really words to express all you’ve done for the city in all this time. You’ve helped me as a mentor in the city council role,” Councilmember Quinn Sperry said in that same meeting. 

“I've been with you over half of your time at Midvale City. I was there when you were put in as city manager, you’ve been through a lot,” Councilmember Paul Glover said. 

“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done this past year. It’s been such a trying year and having you and all your experience and especially being the new kid on the block it was really nice getting to know you and work with you,” Councilmember Heidi Robinson said. 

“We wouldn’t have the Midvale Performing Arts Center without the strong support of Mayor (JoAnn) Seghini and Kane when the decision had to be made about whether to restore that building or not,” Resident Wade Walker said. 

“I worked on making the ball field raise[d] to competition standard with Mayor (J. Donald) Poulson. I worked with the county to get them to pay for the lighting. Kane worked his heart out to redo that field,” Resident Brande Bogden Ridd said. 

Loader started at Midvale City in 1989 as a water and sewer supervisor. He planned to work for Midvale for a year after he received some necessary certifications. 

“Those plans obviously didn’t go as I planned but I’m happy to say they didn’t,” Loader said in a meeting with City Journals. 

Loader tried to leave for a job in Brigham City but the mayor at the time convinced him to stay. 

In 1995, Loader was promoted to Public Works director. He stayed with Midvale for several more years before moving to Sandy City as the deputy director of public utilities. 

“...The first thing I realized is they don’t solve problems like we do in Midvale. They have their own department, and if public utility has a problem that’s not a problem for public works. But here when we have a problem, it is all our problem. The five weeks I was there I was absolutely miserable,” Loader said. 

Loader got a call from the city manager at the time who was asking budget questions. 

“I asked, ‘How’s your search going for Public Works director?’ He said, ‘Well, we haven’t found anyone yet,’” Loader recalled.

“I said, ‘There’s days I wished I stayed at Midvale. Then he said, ‘We need to talk.’”

“I went back into his office and sitting there was Mayor Seghini. She stood up and she gave me a hug and said, ‘You need to come home,’” said Loader, choking up as he spoke. “How could I say no? I came back to Midvale. Within a couple years she asked me to be the city manager which was quite an honor for me.”

In 2005 he was promoted to city manager by Seghini and continued as manager under Hale.

What did Hale mean when he said there were fingerprints left in Midvale by Loader?

As public works director, Loader was responsible for the old City Hall renovation and then the new City Hall construction. He was responsible for the widening of 7200 South between State Street and 700 East, which required the purchase of 99 properties as well as adjusting the utilities under that road.

When some unincorporated county area was annexed into Midvale, he was responsible for getting all the residents and businesses blended with the rest of the city. 

As City Manager, Loader and his staff were responsible for the taming of the Sharon Steel Superfund Site, turning it from an unusable waste land valued at $16 million, to a fully functioning business park and residential area that, upon completion, will be worth over $400 million. 

His team also brought Bingham Junction into a functioning reality. 

“The Bingham Junction property was valued at $2,600. It’s now worth well over $400 million,” Loader said.

“It’s been a great career. I can’t think of a day that I don’t come here that I’ve accomplished or learned something from people. The most enjoyable thing about Midvale is being able to work with the staff and the employees and the elected officials.”

Loader has suggested his replacement to Hale: Matt Dahl, the current assistant city manager, and previously worked for Midvale as RDA director and Community Development director. 

“I knew this day was coming. I wanted to give Matt the opportunity to have experience with field crews and understand how the operations work. He’s got a great background in planning and he knows the RDA better than anyone. About a year ago I put everything under Matt. All the department directors reported to him and he reported to me,” Loader said. 

“I see nothing but good things on the horizon for Midvale.”

At press time, there was no date set for the council advice and consent procedure to hire a new manager to replace Loader.