MILTON — Mayor Wesley Meiss on Monday recognized Council Members R.L. Lewis and Grady Hester for their service to the city.
Meiss presented both council members with an honorary plaque while reflecting on each member’s service. While Hester opted not to seek re-election, Lewis and Jimmy Messick lost their re-election bids in November. Messick was absent for the presentation.
In January, Hester replaced Council Member Marilyn Jones, who resigned due to health and personal issues, in representing Ward III. Before replacing Jones, Hester served on the council for 20 years.
“I came on the council in 1995 and I have thoroughly enjoyed it,” Hester said. “I have seen this city come a long way. There has been a lot of things accomplished without raising the millage rate, except for one time, and it was about 12 or 13 years ago that we did that.”
In addition to thanking City Manager Brian Watkins for his service, Hester praised city employees: “We got a great group of folks here and they need to stay here for a long, long time,” he said.
During his more than 30 years serving the city, Lewis became Milton’s first African American mayor in 2014. He served as mayor for a short period when then sitting Mayor Guy Thompson resigned, allowing Lewis — who at the time was serving as the pro-tem mayor — to take his seat for a couple of days before Meiss was sworn in.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the entire city of Milton, especially the mayor and the staff, for being such good leaders for us. Anytime that I called them, they always took care of any problems that I had in a professional way and I must say that it has been an honor just to serve,” Lewis said.
During the meeting, fellow Council Member Patsy Lunsford thanked both Lewis and Hester for “being great team players on the council.”
Councilwoman Sharon Holley thanked both councilmen for the relationships they maintained with city employees.
“Their door was always open; they were always open minded,” Holley said. “They were concerned for employees and showed their concern in helping us in any way they could.”
Fellow Council Member Mary Ellen Johnson thanked both council members for their professionalism.
“I certainly applaud their view for the continued growth of Milton,” Johnson said. “They are men of wisdom and we appreciate you.”
Resident Al Brewton thanked both council members and credited city leaders for renaming Clara Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Drive along with removing the Confederate flag from the city’s seal.
“I just want you guys to know that we appreciate that and, hopefully with the new council members coming on, they will have an open mind and they will see that we are a diverse city,” Brewton said.
New council members Jeff Snow, Peggi Smith and Casey Powell will be sworn in at 4:45 p.m. before Tuesday’s Community Redevelopment Agency and regular council meeting at city hall.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Mayor recognizes exiting council members