Orland Fire Board salutes outgoing members Brudnak and Schirmacher
Orland Park, IL – The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) honored the service of two outgoing Board Trustees on Tuesday, (April 22, 2025) President John Brudnak and Treasurer Jayne Schirmacher.
The OFPD will administer the Oath of Office at ceremonies to be held in early May to an incumbent Trustee and two new Trustees who won the April 1, 2025, elections: Beth Damas Kaspar, currently a sitting OFPD Trustee, Donald “DJ” Jeffers, currently an OFPD Fire Commissioner, and Bridget Eileen Nolan, a former Palos Heights Police CSO.
Brudnak served a total of 14 years after being appointed Fire Commissioner in 2011 – 2013 and as a Trustee 2013 to 2025. He served as the Board President for the last two years. Schirmacher served as the Board Treasurer from 2013 to 2025.
The presentations were made by OFPD Fire Chief Michael Schofield and Deputy Fire Chief Nick Cinquepalmi in recognition of their roles in overseeing a period of them strengthening the Fire District and improving fire services.
“Tonight is the last meeting of two of our longest-serving members on this board, President John Brudnak and Treasurer Jayne Schirmacher. Each of them has put in 12 years or more of service as Trustees to the Orland Fire Protection District during their times. And boy, did time fly during that time,” Schofield said.
“All of our stations have had some renovations done, whether it’s been new kitchens, new locker rooms, new day rooms. The maintenance site was created and built. We have a state-of-the-art fleet facility. Our training facility is state-of-the-art which has seen multiple additions in the last 12 years. During the past 12 years, we’ve increased staffing. And, we have the finest union contract of any fire department or district in the state.”
Schofield added, “Our contracts for our firefighters are the envy of everyone in the State of Illinois. Our firefighters have the best equipment, they have the best tools, they have the best facilities. And it’s due to the support we received from the board and that Trustees Jane Schirmacher and John Brudnak provided for and committed over the last 12 years.”
Schofield emphasized that the Fire District has experienced “tremendous growth” during the 12 years served by Brudnak and Schirmacher.
“We’ve gone through a lot of growth in the last 12 years, gone through a couple of fire chiefs in the last 12 years, and a lot of hiring. So over the past 12 years we’ve seen a massive number of people retire. So we’ve had probably about 60 new firefighters in the last 12 years,” Schofield said.
“But our board has done what we’ve asked. They’ve given us the tools. They’ve given us the equipment, the support, and the personnel that we have needed over the years.”
Schofield and Cinquepalmi presented both Brudnak and Schirmacher with Plaques to honor their service and also official Fire District Battalion Chief Fire Helmets.
“I just want to say thank you. It’s been an honor serving as a commissioner and then as an elected trustee on this board. As Chief Schofield said, we saw a lot of growth and a lot of development with the district. I hope that you all feel the same as I do, that this is the best Fire District in the State of Illinois. And I hope to see it continue with the future board,” Brudnak said in accepting the plaque and Fire Helmut.
“I want to thank our present board. Angela (Greenfield), Tina (Zekich), Jayne (Schirmacher), Beth (Damas Kaspar), and our past presidents Chris Evoy, Blair Rhode, Craig Schmidt, and Jim Hickey.”
Cinquepalmi read the inscription on the plaque when presenting it to Schirmacher.
“In sincere gratitude and heartfelt appreciation, the Orland Fire Protection District presents this plaque to board trustee Jane Schumacher. In recognition of 12 years of dedicated service and unwavering commitment to our community. Your leadership and contributions have been invaluable, and we will wish you all the best. The Orland Fire Protection District,” Cinquepalmi said.
Schirmacher, who has been battling Cancer over the past year, expressed her “genuine gratitude” to the board members, the fire command and to the firefighters “for making this the best Fire District in the nation.
At the meeting, Schofield announced he is retiring at the beginning of May. Schofield joined the OFPD in May 1979. He will join former OFPD Finance Director Kerry Sullivan who retired on April 16 after 28 years of service.
For more information on the Orland Fire Protection District, visit www.OrlandFire.org.
His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
Follow RayHanania at Twitter
