Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
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Episode 249 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
There’s a certain kind of chaos that only happens in local government.
You can spend months negotiating a $100 million development deal—balancing politics, logistics, and public pressure—and just when the future of your city hangs in the balance, the next agenda item is… feral cats.
That was the scene for David Dillner, then a first-time city administrator in Edgerton, Kansas. The city council approved one of the largest economic projects in state history in under two minutes, then spent the next forty-five debating stray animals.
And that, as David puts it, is city management in a nutshell.
David’s story starts in small-town Kansas, working in a local drugstore where community wasn’t an abstract idea, it was a daily reality. His career path was anything but linear: a pharmacy camp dropout, a small-town website builder, and eventually, a KU MPA graduate who found himself in the deep end of local government leadership.
When Gardner, Kansas, suddenly walked away from a massive BNSF intermodal project, the opportunity, and the chaos, fell right into Edgerton’s lap. With calm precision and a well-timed annexation plan, David helped his city seize the moment, turning uncertainty into impact.
But this episode isn’t just about a big deal. It’s about the leadership lessons buried beneath it:
As David says, “You can have the victory and the loss in the same day. That’s why resilience matters more than anything else.”
This episode is both a case study in city management and a love letter to the profession itself. It’s a reminder that leadership isn’t always glamorous, but it’s always meaningful.
Listen to Episode 249 on The HaltingWinter Podcast, available on Apple, Spotify, and all major platforms. –> www.HaltingWinter.com
We’re also proud to be sponsored by Tyler Technologies, a leader in empowering the public sector with software solutions that connect data, streamline operations, and improve service delivery. From civic services to public safety, Tyler helps local governments build stronger, more resilient communities. Learn more at tylertech.com/winter →
The HaltingWinter Podcast celebrates and elevates the people who power local government. Through in-depth conversations with leaders from cities, counties, and communities of all sizes, host Seth Winterhalter explores the journeys, challenges, and innovations happening in municipal leadership across America.
