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Murray Journal

Cottonwood Heights steals Murray’s Tingey

Oct 29, 2018 04:27PM ● By Jana Klopsch

Tim Tingey has led the Murray Department of Administrative and Development Services for 10 years. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

By Shaun Delliskave | [email protected]

It’s never a good thing when you’re missing a Tingey. In Murray City’s case, Cottonwood Heights has lured Tim Tingey, the director of Administrative and Development Services, away to become its new city manager.

“I am sad to leave Murray but feel this will be a great opportunity for personal growth,” Tingey said of his departure.

While Tingey will no longer be present at Murray City Hall, his impact on the city will be seen for many years to come. The redevelopment of the Murray City Center District (MCCD) will redefine downtown Murray, which, until recently, has seen little in terms of revitalization. In addition to the MCCD, Murray saw the creation of a Business Park Zone and Professional Office Zone, as well as the redevelopment of the Utah Ore Sampling Mill during Tingey’s watch. 

Tingey feels that among his most important accomplishments was the creation of a partnership with NeighborWorks Salt Lake to enhance housing rehabilitation and infill single-family housing in our community. NeighborWorks Salt Lake is a nonprofit organization with the mission of revitalizing neighborhoods and creating affordable housing by providing dynamic and creative leadership through partnerships with residents, youth, businesses and government entities. Tingey has sat on its board, and the organization has revitalized homes throughout Murray.

In addition to the two expansions of the Central Business District Urban Renewal Area and creation of a new Community Reinvestment Area around the Ore Sampling Mill, the city has invested with an eye to the future. “We have also acquired multiple properties in our downtown area to facilitate important projects for our community,” Tingey noted. “Any accomplishment I have had has been because of the great staff I work with along with exceptional leadership from three mayors and the city council in Murray.”

Tingey began working in Murray in May 2008 as the director of community and economic development. In 2011, a departmental reorganization combined four departments into one, creating the Administrative and Development Services (ADS) Department under Tingey. The ADS department now includes seven divisions within the city. 

“Right now we are considering all things, but nothing is decided,” Mayor Blair Camp said. “This is the right opportunity to decide if any changes are necessary, but for now we are just evaluating the needs of the department.”

Camp will have quite a challenge in finding someone to fill Tingey’s big shoes. Tingey came to Murray with experience working in local government in Pocatello, Idaho. In addition to his wealth of experience, Tingey has a doctorate in political science from Idaho State University and was an adjunct professor at the University of Utah in the Masters of Public Administration program. 

Murray's new development director will face evolving challenges that Tingey was beginning to deal with. These challenges include making sure there is the right mix of commercial and residential projects in our community. Also challenging will be adhering to state mandates regarding the creation of affordable housing, an issue that is critical for all communities throughout the Wasatch Front to address.

Tingey reflected, “I am very grateful for my time in Murray and feel very good about the work I have been involved with. There are always projects that I would have liked to move forward in a more expedited way, but overall our community is exceptional in so many ways. I will miss all of the wonderful people I work with in every department and will especially miss the day-to-day interactions with all of my staff in the Administrative and Development Services Department.”