The retirement of one long-time city official passed quietly Dec. 31, and frankly, that’s just how the retiree wanted it.

But we can’t get too far into the new year without spotlighting Joe Maltese, LaGrange’s assistant to the city manager for special projects and West Point Lake “point man” who retires from government work with 30 years of tireless service.

Maltese will stay on a contract basis with LaGrange as its lake point man, and this is a relief for everyone. He’s forgotten more facts and figures about the lake and the Chattahoochee River basin than some of us will ever know and remember to begin with. And while he stepped away from economic development more than three years ago, his retirement can’t pass without mentioning all his work to bring new business and industry to the city – what was, and still is, a 24-hour a day job.

Maltese shys away from accolades and LaGrange City Manager Tom Hall recently joked that not only did Maltese not want a party “he won’t even let us buy a cup of coffee.” Hall also says the city won’t immediately hire another special projects assistant. At this point that’s probably for the best. It would be hard to find someone to hold a candle to Maltese and his work for the city.