(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County Highway Department Superintendent Al Stevens is out of a job after being terminated Monday after only being appointed to the position by the La Porte County Commissioners back in early January.

 

La Porte County Commissioner Rich Mrozinski said he and Commissioner Connie Gramarossa made the decision after speaking to Stevens in person, albeit separately in the conference room of the commissioners inside the County Annex building.

 

“When we looked at all of the evidence there that we had it was more than enough for dismissal, so, that’s what we did,” Mrozinski said.

 

Mrozinski would not be too specific on the reasons cited because the decision involved a personnel matter. He did howeve reveal that there were work-related orders that weren't obeyed even after being given warnings about the violations.

 

“Trust me. This has been an ongoing thing and it finally came to a point where we had to do something,” Mrozinski said.

 

Stevens is also the La Porte County Republican Party Chairman.

 

Mrozinski was kicked out of the party last year by republicans feeling double-crossed by his choice to continue supporting then-County Attorney Shaw Friedman after promising not to support Friedman during his campaign.

 

The firing of Stevens seems to be part of a dismantling of the new power structure that was in place when Gramarossa took her seat on the commission and sided with Joe Haney to give them the majority back in January.

 

A few months ago, Gramarossa began voting with Mrozinski.

 

Ever since, Haney has been replaced by Gramarossa as Commission President, County Attorney Andrew Jones, who replaced Friedman at the beginning of the year, was terminated and replaced by Scott Pejic and now Stevens is out.

 

Mrozinski, while reflecting on his meeting with Stevens, denied his firing had anything to do with politics.

 

“The very first thing I said was this is not personal. This is business and running the business of the commissioners is a awesome responsibility and when things are not going right and when people are told to do things and they don’t do them or they lie to me then we have to make a change,” he said.

 

Mrozinski said he hopes to have a replacement for Stevens next week.

 

Stevens left his position with the Indiana Department of Transportation to become Highway Superintendent.