LaPorte County commissioners appoint Jim Lefeber to Board of Zoning Appeals over objections

LaPorte County commissioners voted 2-1 on June 3 to appoint Jim Lefeber as an alternate member of the county Board of Zoning Appeals, resolving a contested nomination after brief floor debate.

The nomination came after the board removed the matter from the table. Commissioner Joe Haney nominated Jim Lefeber; Commissioner Connie Gramarossa nominated Brad Mrozinski. Gramarossa objected to Lefeber’s nomination, saying Lefeber "is one of the individuals listed on the police incident report" and noting Lefeber had appeared during public comment at recent meetings. She argued that the board should not "reward people that come here and side with you two" when considering appointments.

President Steve Holifield responded that Lefeber was the only candidate who submitted a response and that several neighbors told him they did not want to be involved because BZA matters can become "quite litigious." With nominations closed, Auditor Mike Rosenbaum called the roll. Commissioners Holifield and Haney voted for Lefeber; Commissioner Gramarossa voted for Mrozinski. The motion to appoint Lefeber carried 2-1.

The appointment makes Lefeber an alternate on the Board of Zoning Appeals; the transcript does not record terms or an effective date for the appointment.

The board took no additional action on this item during the meeting. The record shows a partisan disagreement among commissioners over whether Lefeber’s prior mention in a police report and recent public comments should disqualify him from serving.