Dissension among the Butler County commissioners may lead them to eliminate their individual reports at each voting meeting.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, said at the meeting Wednesday that the reports have deteriorated to the point that they’re counter productive.

McCarrier referred to numerous reports given by Commissioner Jim Eckstein that have attacked county workers and other elected officials.

“Being criticized is part of holding a political office,” McCarrier said. “However, the insinuations and accusations made in this report time have degraded into hellacious attacks.”

He accused Eckstein of using his report as part of his political campaign.

“I suspect the report time is being used as a forum for a re-election campaign in which one candidate hopes to elevate (his) own candidacy by degrading others,” McCarrier said.

He pointed out some counties don’t have commissioner reports, while the ones that do maintain civility.

State law does not require county commissioners to give reports during public meetings.

McCarrier said the reports should be commissioners speaking about the activities of the committees and boards on which they serve.

“Ours has digressed into a time to express unfounded opinions ... and to entertain the public with ranting and ravings,” McCarrier said. “During the past two years, many employees and elected officials have been unjustly criticized and demoralized.”

Eckstein said after the meeting he opposes McCarrier’s proposal.

“I think it’s uncalled for,” Eckstein said.

He vowed to speak during the public comment portion of every meeting and would seek a court injunction if the other commissioners stopped him.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton agreed with McCarrier that the reports should be eliminated.

“That’s the way I feel about it,” Pinkerton said in an interview. “He’s (Eckstein) turned it into a circus.”

If Eckstein is restricted to speaking during public comment, he would have less time to do so. Public comment has a three-minute limit as opposed to the 10 minutes allotted to each commissioner report.

If the proposed change is approved, the action would be the second time these commissioners reduced the time they can speak.

Against Eckstein’s protests, the board previously set time limits for commissioner reports and for the responses to people speaking during public comment.