(La Porte County, IN) - Controversy flared up at last night’s La Porte County Commissioners meeting.

 

Newly-elected Commissioner Joe Haney was removed from his involvement with the La Porte County Redevelopment Commission and replaced by La Porte County Commission President Rich Mrozinski.  The commissioners appointed Haney to his role with the RDC early in January, but human error causing an oversight was blamed for Mrozinski not being named at the time.

 

Haney challenged the explanation, though.  Hanney implicated La Porte County Attorney Shaw Friedman in the unexpected switch during last night’s La Porte County Commissioners meeting.  Haney confessed that Commissioner Mrozinski told him during a recent conversation, “Shaw wants you off. Those are the exact words he used to me.”  Mrozinski claimed the change had more to do with his years of experience on the Redevelopment Commission and with economic development.

 

LaPorte County Attorney Friedman responded that he was surprised Haney was chosen for the position and felt Mrozinski was better suited because of his close involvement with matters like ongoing efforts to further develop Kingsbury Industrial Park.

 

“[Commissioner Mrozinski has] been involved with economic development issues at KIP for 13-years. You’ve been involved for 13 days. So, yes, there is a benefit to having Mr. Mrozinski continue on,” Friedman said.

 

Haney cast the only vote among the three commissioners against reappointing Friedman as La Porte County Attorney during a reorganization meeting earlier this month.