David Dillner, City Manager for the City El Dorado, received the 2025 Sunflower Award during the Kansas Association of City/County Management [KACM] Annual Conference, held in Emporia Dec. 3-5.
The Sunflower Award, established in 2021, is presented to a KACM member who works closely with other government levels to help with city legislation. Someone who testifies at the state legislature for positive legislation and/or worked closely with federal representatives on legislative issues.
“Receiving the Sunflower Award is truly an honor, but more than anything, it reflects the importance of working together across all levels of government to create meaningful, lasting change,” David said. “This recognition reinforces the value of collaboration and the impact it can have."
David played an instrumental role in modifying federal water storage contracts, an achievement that has saved not only the citizens of El Dorado millions of dollars but has also provided financial relief to taxpayers across the State of Kansas.
El Dorado sought to address the financial burden of its water storage contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The city’s existing agreement utilized compound interest, dramatically increasing long-term debt obligations. Recognizing the opportunity for financial relief, David spearheaded a strategic initiative to advocate for a shift to simple interest calculations, significantly reducing the city’s overall water storage debt.
David’s efforts did not stop at the city limits. His success in modifying El Dorado’s contract set a precedent that catalyzed similar legislative action at the state level. Recognizing the potential for statewide application, Kansas officials leveraged David’s initiative to secure comparable modifications for water contracts at Milford Lake and Perry Lake. The resulting legislative changes—passed as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024—will save Kansas taxpayers an estimated $41 million over the lifespan of these contracts.
"Addressing our water storage contract was an important financial challenge facing our community,” he said. “By pursuing a fair and sustainable solution, we were able to ease a long-term burden on our residents and strengthen the city’s financial outlook for decades to come. I’m proud that our work in El Dorado helped pave the way for statewide reforms that will save Kansans millions of dollars. It’s a reminder that when we advocate for our community, we can help shape better policy for everyone."