County Commissioner Jim Eckstein says his often bizarre behavior has a point: he’s trying to reform county government.

Heaven help us if he ever succeeds. But he won’t.

This week, Eckstein brought politics to an all-time low with his childish retorts during a commissioners meeting.

In something resembling kindergarten class, Eckstein accused the other commissioners of being “lower than pondscum.”

Really, Commissioner Eckstein? Have you now stooped to the level of name-calling?

At issue was yet another complaint of workplace harassment by yet another female county employee. That makes four formal complaints, including a defamation complaint, against Eckstein in two years — for those still keeping score. He’s also had dustups with the county treasurer and the register of wills, both women row officers.

The accusations pile up, yet Eckstein brushes them aside, saying his colleagues Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton are fostering false allegations against him.

The latest complaint stems from an Aug. 14 incident involving a clerk in the Chidlren and Youth Services office. As a commissioner, Eckstein is entitled access to the CYS employee records he was seeking, but it’s customary for commissioners to go through department heads — not clerks — when requesting records. It’s a matter of common courtesy, McCarrier says, while Pinkerton says he’d never skirt the department head and put a clerk on the spot.

Eckstein alleges his fellow commissioners have created a hostile attitude toward him in the county courthouse. He said they’re encouraging employees to file complaints.

That’s poppycock, says Carmine Scotece, director of county human services. Scotese adds there were two witnesses to the latest incident in the CYS office.

Eckstein counters Scotece by saying the county neglected to interview a neutral witness.

That’s an amusing defense. Considering his abrasive character, Eckstein must be finding it more and more difficult to identify a witness he would consider neutral.

We agree with Scotece: Eckstein’s explanation is a load of poppycock. He’s either totally without a clue, or he actually enjoys stirring up controversy and the notoriety that goes with it.

As for his desire to reform county government, that’s poppycock too. Eckstein shows no willingness to work with the other commissioners or even to push an agenda of any kind.

All he’s done for the taxpayers of Butler County is to take up time, take up space and take a paycheck.

A challenge issued previously to Eckstein by the Butler Eagle remains unanswered, and it still stands: Put up or shut up. Lay out any evidence you think you may have regarding a conspiracy against you, or let it go.

It’s unfortunate the county can’t do much to sanction or even remove Eckstein from office. The voters will have to remove him — and they should remove him — during the Fall 2015 election.

Until then, the county government will be forced to work around the immense, immovable impediment Eckstein has become.