To the editor:

Councilman Curtis R. Milteer Sr. has been a lifelong resident of Nansemond County and its transition to the city of Suffolk, with the exception of when he was serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

He was elected to Suffolk City Council in 1980 to represent the Whaleyville Borough and has been consecutively reelected and served since then. To date, that makes nine elections (36 years).

During those years, he has diligently been mobile throughout the Whaleyville Borough and the city of Suffolk to make himself available to the citizens, to become informed of their perspectives on public needs and to work with city staff and council to provide and deliver continued public services.

Those services include the provision of the utilities of water and sewage in the communities of Saratoga, South Suffolk and to Carolina Road and Turlington Road.

A new firehouse, with ambulance equipment and certified staff, a renovated community center, new curb and gutter, sidewalks, street lights, a mini park and a state-of-the-art water tank and distribution system in the village of Whaleyville will be a legacy to the borough and to the city.

The citizens of the Whaleyville Borough recognized many years ago his dedication, ability and sincerity in representing us and working to make a better quality of life for a rural area that was in need of improved public services.

Mr. Milteer’s longevity as a councilman has come with a new generation of supporters each election year. Additionally, his relentless accomplishments have been achieved by working cooperatively with a changing city staff and council in the past 36 years.

Councilman Milteer’s tireless responses — whether about a dead and dangerous pine tree beside the roadway, about overgrown vegetation or about irritating clogged drainage that needs the city’s attention — are truly appreciated.

His track record and his agenda for the future deserve our continued support.

Howard Benton

Suffolk