HORTONVILLE — On Wednesday, October 8, the Town of Delaware announced the retirement of two employees who have long been valuable players on the team. 

After 28 years, Town Clerk Tess McBeath steps away from her post and will pass the torch to her replacement, Deputy Town Clerk Leila McCullough. 

“She’s on her farewell tour,” said Supervisor Scott Dubois. “Tess will be retiring at the end of this year, she will be greatly missed.” 

In addition to her duties as Town Clerk of Delaware, McBeath is a staple of the local community and organizes litter plucks, town clean-ups, and serves as Vice President of the Grover M. Hermann Hospital Auxiliary. 

Also leaving the Delaware dream team is Highway Superintendent Bill Eschenberg after overseeing the local road crew for the last 26 years. 

Dubois appointed Christopher Hermann to be the Highway Superintendent to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Eschenberg. 

Hermann, who currently sits as a Delaware Councilperson, will be running unopposed for the highway superintendent position in the upcoming general election on November 4. 

“I wish him [Eschenberg] the best of luck,” DuBois said. “The roads here [have] always gotten great compliments, he’s [Eschenberg] left us in a great position for the future and I wish him well and I hope he has great enjoyment into his ‘final third’ [stage of life] as I like to call it.”