Dear editor,
My journey with the city of Milton began when I moved into the city in 1956. I went to Pensacola Beauty College and went to work at Beauty Unlimited for a year until I built my own 6 operator beauty salon called Pat’s House of Beauty.
After I sold my salon I wanted to give back to my city. In 1996 when I was 59 years old I ran for council and won. I was the third woman to be elected with Betty Willie and Hilda McDonald preceding me. At the time, Donna Adams was city manager and Guy Thompson was mayor. Our meetings were held in old city hall. While I was campaigning, some young boys requested a skate park to be built if I were elected. With the help of the family of Stephen Morgan and Stephen Lewis and many others we were able to make this happen for the children.
During my time on the council, we built the new city hall building, the warehouse and garage, police station, ball fields, community center, fire station, Riverwalk, Russell Harbor Landing, the new tennis courts, Highway 90 beautification project, Bands on the Blackwater and began the Marina project.
I have worked side by side on a great team over the years. I’ve served with Buddy Jordan, Chuck Prince, Byrom Stewart, Grady Hester, Marilyn Jones, R. L. Lewis, Paul Kilmartin, Clayton White, George Jernigan, Lloyd Hinote, Ashley Lay, Sharon Holley, Wesley Meiss, Alan Lowery, Heather Hathaway, Casey Powell, Jeff Snow, Mary Ellen Johnson and Peggi Smith. We’ve all worked together as a team and accomplished many goals together, all the while keeping in mind the family friendly atmosphere Milton is known for.
Speaking of those goals, the Veteran’s Memorial Park is a great asset and great beginning of what Riverwalk Park will become. I have big ideas when it comes to Riverwalk Park and what is commonly referred to as Historic downtown Milton. I dream of new residential condominiums lining the beautiful Blackwater River with shops underneath to provide a boom for new residents and businesses, therefore tax revenue. The Milton Marina RV Park has been a dream of mine for a long time and now a disc golf course and indoor trampoline park as well.
It will be interesting to see what the next 20 years will bring.
I want to thank my constituents for the 20 years I have served. It was with great pride and honor; I did my best.
COUNCILWOMAN PATSY LUNSFORD
Milton
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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Remembering Milton's growth