EPHRATA — Governor Jay Inslee has not replied by Wednesday to a letter sent to him by Grant County Commissioners on Monday by email. The lack of response has been a persistent problem since Inslee issued orders restricting business, gatherings and movement to counter the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the commissioners.

“We’ve sent three letters. He has not responded to any of them,” Commissioner Tom Taylor said. He said he didn’t expect a response. “I would be shocked if we received a call.”

Commissioner Cindy Carter said representatives from the governor’s office have been helpful in cases of specific business, such as home construction. But neither Inslee nor his staff have answered questions about specifics of the shutdown policy, Taylor said.

Commissioners did receive some — but in Carter’s opinion insufficient — advance notice of some of the governor’s decisions. County officials have been forced to scramble to respond and implement them, she said.

Taylor said Inslee should have contacted county and city officials and kept them better informed of his plans. Inslee has announced an agreement with governors of California, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada to coordinate some lifting of restrictions.

Inslee has not, Taylor said, kept county officials adequately informed. “But he’s reached out to other states. It’s frustrating,” Taylor said.

The letter sent Monday was drafted after a meeting of county commissioners from across the state, Taylor said, and other counties have sent similar letters.

The letter said the commissioners recognized the unprecedented nature in modern times of the outbreak, and the need for a strong early response. “However, we are now seeing the unintended effects of these measures that lack any solid termination date,” it said. “People from every corner of the state are suffering. Businesses are closing, unemployment checks are not being received — and our citizens need help now.

“We have been patient, but this can only last so long. We now demand answers and solutions to restore our crumbling economy as we watch the people in our communities lose everything they have worked for,” the letter said.

“You, just as we are, are accountable to the very people who elected us under Article 1, Section 1 of the Washington State Constitution. It is a disgrace to the state and the governor’s office that you have chosen to ignore the people. Instead you have decided to spend your time building the ‘Western Regional Pact.’

“Washingtonians must come first. As commissioners, we question how you had the time and resources to work with governors from California, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada, yet have failed to communicate with local leaders in this state who represent the very people you were elected to serve.”

The governor’s office does have a liaison for central Washington, Taylor said. “There has been some discussion but not really answers,” he said.

There are a lot of inconsistencies in the orders detailing essential and non-essential businesses and activities, Taylor said, and in his opinion state officials, including Inslee, have not explained the rationale behind a lot of those decisions.

Application of the essential and non-essential designations have been hard to understand, Taylor said. “The blatant inconsistencies in his list of essential industries and essential businesses is baffling,” he said.

Inslee announced May 1 that most of the restrictions would extend through May 31, although some businesses and industries will be allowed to start opening in phases.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.