Orland Hills Board Filled Out With Newly Appointed Trustee

The Orland Hills Board of Trustees is full for the first time since November.

Frank L. Schmidt, 40, was unanimously appointed to the seat left open on the Orland Hills board after trustee . Citing a desire to help fill some of the empty storefronts he has seen in town, Schmidt decided to apply for the position first after Art Gnech passed away.

While Kyle Hastings II was , when Hanley left the board another spot was open. Schmidt was one of two people who applied for the more recent opening, said Orland Hills Village Manager John Daly.

“I wanted to be more involved with politics, and the community, and to see what I can do,” Schmidt said after he was appointed at Wednesday night’s board meeting. “I went through the whole process and they decided to select me, and I’m excited about it. We have some empty commercial properties and I want to see what all we can bring in.”

The only elected position Schmidt has served on has been with the village’s library board for the last four years. Schmidt is also on the ballot for both the library and village boards in the April election, and is running unopposed for both spots.

As trustee, he will eventually assume chairmanship of a village committee, Daly said.

Trustee Joseph Janachowski has been chairman of both the developmental, planning and zoning committee and the public works committee since Hanley’s departure.

“When he’s ready we’ll put him in to one (committee),” Daly said about Schmidt.