Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Chatham Town Board September 17, honored retiring Highway Superintendent Joe Rickert during the board's regular meeting held virtually via an online platform. Town Supervisor Donal Collins told Rickert the residents are “forever in your debt” for his service. Rickert will retire this week after 34 years with the town, 21 years of that time serving as highway superintendent. Rickert praised his highway crew and said that during his tenure it was great to “meet everybody” in Chatham. In his letter to the board announcing his retirement, Rickert thanked the board, in addition to the staff at town hall and at the Highway Department. “I would also like to thank the kind residents of the town, who have made my job such a pleasure,” he wrote. Rickert said it has been amazing to watch the town grow over the years, while pointing out that 2020 had been one “heck of year.” Following an executive session the board appointed Jeffrey Antalek to serve as the new superintendent. Antalek will serve through the end of Rickert's four-year term, until 2021. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.