Kyra Mills, Membership Coordinator for the United Water Partnership of Northwest Missouri, is the 2023 recipient of the Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference David L. Williams Award of Merit. She was presented the award by Verlon Persinger, Incoming Chairman for Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference. (Submitted photo)
Kyra Mills, Membership Coordinator for the United Water Partnership of Northwest Missouri, is the 2023 recipient of the Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference David L. Williams Award of Merit. She was presented the award at the conference in Columbia, Missouri. The award is presented to any water, wastewater works operator, superintendent, or person directly connected with such plants or distribution systems who holds an active member status in the conference. The recipient must possess exemplary leadership in the field of water and/or wastewater practice, operation, and inspiring loyalty and devotion to the citizens of the community.
Kyra first started in the utility business serving on the Rock Port, Missouri, Board of Public Works in the late 1990s. During her tenure on this board, she traveled to King City, Missouri, monthly to help organize the Northwest Water Partnership to bring communities in northwest Missouri together to find a solution and provide water to the communities in the area that had been affected with drought and aged infrastructure. While serving in this group, Kyra thought the very same vision could also benefit Atchison County, as well as neighboring counties, to provide water to many of the communities that were suffering from very aged water plants and problems with source water. She was instrumental in forming the Atchison County Wholesale Water Commission, now the United Water Partnership, began producing water in October of 2013. Kyra also served as the chairperson for the Tarkio Board of Public Works from May 2018 to February 2023. Kyra’s dedication to the industry and the citizens that she has served over the last 20+ years is most warranting of the David L. Williams Award of Merit.
