No one is irreplaceable, but Butler County government leaders might view William O’Donnell as a possible exception during his tenure as chief county clerk.

For county government, O’Donnell, who will retire effective Nov. 2, has been the point man in pulling together many aspects of Government Center activity, ensuring effectiveness — and even in helping to guide elected leaders to correct decision making.

Meanwhile, one of his most important responsibilities has been to help prepare the county’s annual budget, which has become increasingly challenging.

To his credit, the timing of his retirement will not be a detriment to the county commissioners’ 2013 budget-preparation work. O’Donnell has agreed to stay on in a part-time capacity through the end of this year to help complete next year’s budget and any unfinished special projects for which his involvement might be necessary.

He also has offered to help find his replacement.

It won’t be easy to find someone who has been as skilled, effective and professional as O’Donnell has been during his years of service.

Perhaps county solicitor Julie Graham best summed up O’Donnell’s impact on the county, saying, “We have a really well-run county government, and a lot of that credit goes to Billy’s leadership skills.”

That’s why O’Donnell has been so well respected during his years in the chief clerk position.

O’Donnell counts among his best accomplishments during his 20-year county career his work on the new prison, the new 911 center and renovations at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

By his budget-preparation expertise, he also has had an important role in helping to identify savings opportunities that have helped keep the county property tax at what he describes as a “relatively low” level.

Indeed, through his efforts, in cooperation with the commissioners and other row officers, this county has avoided financial crises like those that have afflicted a number of other counties across the state.

O’Donnell has provided a solid foundation for much important decision making, and his presence will be missed.

An article in Thursday’s Butler Eagle announcing O’Donnell’s retirement contains an instructive paragraph for county government going forward. While saying that disagreements over the past 10 months among the three commissioners did not prompt his retirement, O’Donnell made the following — correct — observation: “We don’t get a lot done when we’re working out a whole lot of little things instead of looking at the big picture. Things could be smoother. It’s not a healthy environment.”

It’s been clear for months that the current, highly divisive environment must change. And, with O’Donnell’s departure, it will be more important than at any time during the past decade that county government not be stymied and eroded by trivialities, personalities and hardheadedness.

In deciding to leave now, O’Donnell, referred to as “Billy O” by his Government Center colleagues, is like the professional athlete who decides to retire while on top.

But like with that athlete, his team — in this case other county officials — will have big shoes to fill to continue moving foward.