It can be surmised that news about the confrontational atmosphere in the Butler County commissioners office is spreading far and wide in Pennsylvania — perhaps beyond this state.

That kind of news regarding a governmental entity seldom remains locked up at home.

The most recent development — that Butler County’s president judge on Nov. 19 issued an order to station a deputy sheriff indefinitely in the commissioners office because of the “volatile” climate there — likely will spread quickly as well.

County residents can safely conclude that Commissioners Dale Pinkerton and Jim Eckstein, plus county chief clerk Amy Wilson, in their interactions with officials of other counties during last week’s annual County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania conference in Hershey, fielded questions about what is going on here to upset what consistently had been peaceful, efficient government.

Despite occasional differences of opinion, this county’s government had in the past been a symbol of orderly consideration of issues and mutual respect among officeholders and other county employees. Even if there were major differences and, on some occasions, hard feelings, those differences were handled in an orderly, respectful way — the way issues and differences should be handled.

Beyond the differences of opinion signaled by a split vote, boards of commissioners were able to move on to the next order of business without the need to rehash the prior business later, unless something new and significant emerged.

That changed with Eckstein’s election in November 2011. He has been at the center of virtually all of the many disagreements that have evolved in the commissioners office since he assumed his county role in January.

Most troubling is that his approach on behalf of good government has failed to mature in tandum with the length of his public-office experience. His rantings have been unproductive and embarrassing.

Now, with the climate of conflict embedded firmly in the commissioners office, President Judge Thomas Doerr, believing that the situation there could potentially lead to a breach of the peace, ordered the stationing of the sheriff’s deputy there, presumably both as a deterrent to conduct getting out of hand, as well as having an asset in place should such an unfortunate situation erupt.

“The commissioners, the staff and potentially the public have become confrontational,” Doerr said, in explaining his decision. “I honestly believe someone could lose their temper and become violent.”

It’s unfortunate that such a waste of a county resource is necessary; the deputy in question could be serving warrants or carrying out some equally important function.

But Doerr is right in being concerned and proactive in trying to ensure safety and proper conduct on the government center’s fifth floor, which the commissioners occupy.

While the deputy will be stationed at the commissioners office indefinitely, unless there’s a commissioners vote asking the judge to reconsider, Doerr, who by virtue of being president judge is responsible for security at the courthouse, said he hopes the atmosphere will improve to the point where the deputy can resume his regular duties.

The judge’s sentiments are shared by many others.

Butler County is working on many fronts to improve its image, attract new businesses and industries, and also new residents.

The volatile climate in the government center works against those efforts and, perhaps in some locales, has relegated this county to a less-than-respectful status.

That’s unacceptable — just like having to waste a deputy’s time during the regular business day at the commissioners office — thus, wasting taxpayers’ money in the process.