I am responding to Rick Ellis' letter to the editor on Aug. 12, 2008, regarding Leesburg and the street commissioner.
I have lived and owned my own business in Leesburg for more than 50 years of my life. Because I own my own business, I see, on a day-to-day basis, what goes on here in Leesburg. From my perspective, I see Ed driving through town regularly, always with something in the back of the truck that he has picked up off the streets of Leesburg or out of someone's yard or sweeping the streets, therefore keeping the town of Leesburg beautiful and clean. When the "new" sewer system is being installed, I trust that the streets will need maintained and I have faith in Ed to get that done.
One of the last storms we had in Leesburg, there were trees down, blocking the way to my place of business. I have employees coming in from all directions of the county to get to work. The street commissioner himself was out cleaning up trees before 7 a.m. so that my employees and other patrons visiting or passing through could get through. That is not a job that typically one has a smile on their face while doing, but Ed waves and smiles to those who pass by whether he knows them or not.
We have visitors from all over the world, and one of their first comments to me is: "What a quaint little town" and "the brick streets." To this day, I am and I continue to be proud of and talk about Leesburg with my visitors and while traveling.
I would personally like to thank Ed for the great job that he does to maintain this beautiful community.
