Butler County may construct another building at the Sunnyview complex in Butler Township.

County Commissioner Jim Eckstein on Wednesday opposed the idea, accusing the two Republican commissioners of being “two tax and spend liberals.”

Eckstein is the sole Democrat on the board.

He said at the commissioners meeting all the county needs is a metal structure, which would mainly house emergency services equipment.

Along with an emergency services garage at the Sunnyview complex, the county stores equipment in the Herman Volunteer Fire Company, the Harmony VFC and Butler Township Fire District Station 3.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Eckstein pleaded with county residents for aid in blocking a more elaborate building.

“I desperately need the public’s help,” he said. “I will be outvoted.”

Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, said Eckstein was making erroneous comments.

“You’ve heard the fiction,” McCarrier said. “Now, hear the facts.”

He said the board has not discussed such a proposal.

However, McCarrier conceded he was gathering information about what the county may need to do at some point.

“I’m looking at options,” McCarrier said.

He said the county coroner needs a morgue and the county Conservation District needs a better home than the barn it’s in now.

The Butler Township district court, which is in an existing building at the complex, also would be considered for inclusion in a new building.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton agreed the idea was worth considering down the road if the county has the financial means to do so.

Eckstein questioned how the other two commissioners independently came to the conclusion that a new building had merit: “Isn’t that amazing?”

He later came up with an explanation how his colleagues had the same idea.

“It’s telepathy,” Eckstein said.

Pinkerton pointed out he and McCarrier saved the county money by selling the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, ensuring the new office building being constructed next to the government center would not create new debt.

Eckstein, who favored the county buying an existing building to add new office space, said the better option would have been not constructing a new building at all.

“We would have zero debt,” he said.