Fire District fills Trustee vacancy with experienced Fire Commissioner
Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) board unanimously votes to name Dr. Beth Damas Kaspar Fire Commissioner to fill vacancy as Fire District Trustee following the resignation of longtime Orland Fire Protection District Trustee James Hickey. Board President John Brudnak showcases the district’s many achievements that have increased successful emergency response and reduced costs to taxpayers, including highest Cardiac Arrest Save Rate of 71 percent and highest ISO 1 Rating
Orland Park — The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) Board of Trustees voted at a special meeting Friday (April 28, 2023) to accept the resignation of longtime Trustee Jim Hickey and appoint in his place Fire Commissioner member Dr. Beth Damas Kaspar.
Hickey, who has been on the board since 2009, resigned for personal reasons. Dr. Damas Kaspar will serve as a Trustee running for the seat in the next election.
The four remaining board members, President John Brudnak, Christopher Evoy, Craig Schmidt and Jayne Schirmacher, voted unanimously to approve Dr. Damas Kaspar’s appointment.
“We believe Beth will fulfill our commitment to ensure that the taxpayers of the Orland Fire Protection District continue to receive the best and most professional emergency response services from our first responders,” said OFPD President John Brudnak.
“Our commitment has never wavered in its commitment to ensure that our firefighters not only e have the best equipment and training to do their jobs but receive the compensation and benefits suited to their phenomenal performances. We need individuals who understand that the priority is to ensure the Fire District continues to provide the most professional services to our residents.”
Brudnak said that during his term on the board, the Fire District has moved away from politics to focus almost exclusively on providing emergency services to residents.
“We have a fully funded pension. 100 percent funded. That means there is no tax debt obligation that will be placed on the taxpayers, as unfortunately is the case with many other governments. The Orland Fire Protection District has the highest Cardiac Arrest Save Rate in the region and possibly the nation, 71 percent, compared to only 10-15 percent elsewhere. That is exactly why we are all here, to save lives and to ensure we have the absolute best firefighters and paramedics and emergency first responders,” Brudnak said.
“With great leadership and training, and support from a board that understands that the focus is on emergency services, not politics, the Fire District has an ISO 1 rating, the highest you can receive. That means lower insurance premiums for our residents. The higher the ISO rating the lower the insurance premiums. The lower the ISO rating, the higher the insurance companies charge residents in fire department jurisdictions.”
Brudnak expressed the board’s best wishes to Hickey who has dedicated many years to making the fire district the best in the nation.
Dr. Damas Kaspar will be seated at the next Fire District meeting in May when the district administers the oath of office to the newly elected trustees, Tina Zekich and Angela Greenfield.
Dr. Beth Ann Damas was born and raised in Lemont, Illinois. In 2005, she graduated as one of only five students with a dual DDS and MS degree from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. Upon graduation, Dr. Damas Kaspar entered the private practice of general dentistry in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago from 2005 to 2008. Subsequently, Dr. Damas Kaspar entered the endodontic residency program at the University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan. She completed her residency training in 2010.
Dr. Damas Kaspar is an active member of the American Association of Endodontists, American Dental Association and the Chicago Dental Society. Her expertise includes regenerative endodontics in adolescents and she has presented this research to various study clubs nationally. Dr. Damas Kaspar completed her American Board of Endodontics Diplomate certification in 2015 which is the highest academic achievement in the profession.
Dr. Damas Kaspar resides in the southwest suburbs with her husband, two young children and dog. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading and creating art projects.
Dr. Damas Kaspar has lived in Orland Park since 2012. She was appointed to the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners which overseas personnel matters.
She is married to Scott Kaspar and they have two kids, Caroline and Caden, who attend St. Michael School.
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Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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