Plans On Hold For Deputy At Butler Co. Commissioners' Office
BUTLER (KDKA) - After some heated encounters, plans have been put on hold to place a sheriff's deputy outside of the Butler County Commissioners' offices.
One commissioner calls himself a maverick trying to change the system. The other two said they're tired of all the bickering and its making it difficult to conduct county business.
It's not unusual for tempers to flare whenever the Butler County Commissioners call a meeting.
First-year Democratic Commissioner James Eckstein often disagrees and argues with Republican commissioners.
"People elected me trying to change the status quo in the system and I think they're getting what they bargained for," Eckstein said.
"He really gets loud. He was out of order at the one meeting and as he said, I slammed my fist because I didn't have a gavel. I yelled at him," William McCarrier said.
Republican Commissioners McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton said they are worried about the county's image with all the arguing, but are trying to focus on the positives.
"I wish it weren't this way. As I said, I served another term as a county commissioner and it was a great four years. We accomplished an awful lot in those four years," McCarrier said.
"It's a little difficult at times. Our county has got the lowest unemployment almost in the state. We grew 10,000 people," Pinkerton said.
The hostilities have gotten so bad that a judge has issued an order to post a sheriff's deputy at the meetings and even at the Commissioners' Office.
The commissioners and sheriff will meet with the judge to discuss the order and it's possible that they will agree a deputy in the office may not be necessary.
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