The Grant County Commission joined commissions from 18 other Washington counties urging Gov. Jay Inslee to speed up the state’s return to normalcy and to hand over more control to local authorities.

“The effects of COVID-19 could not have been predicted, and we recognize the strong early response efforts you initiated in light of unknown consequences and dire forecasts provided by health experts,” the letter states.

“However, we are now seeing the unintended effects of these measures that lack any solid termination date,” the letter continues.

The letter notes that nearly two months of bills have piled up since the governor’s “stay home, stay healthy” order was announced, restricting what businesses could remain open and what services could be provided. Employers and employees alike are unable to pay those bills, the letter states, and industries from health care to agriculture have faced a critical decline in revenue.

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

The commissions collectively requested that the governor lift restrictions on non-essential businesses and services, stating that the organizations were already submitting plans for reopening safely. The counties are in the best position to “lead” those businesses, the letter claims.

“We implore you to allow us to take local control with the help and support that the state can give,” the letter concludes. “We strongly hope you will work with us and allow us to create plans within our individual counties that address our individual county needs.”

The letter was signed by the boards of commissioners of Yakima, Grant, Lewis, Douglas, Chelan, Walla Walla, Benton, Cowlitz, Franklin, Pacific, Lincoln, Kittitas, Wahkiakum, Stevens, Asotin, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Skamania and Ferry counties.

Emry Dinman can be reached via email at edinman@columbiabasinherald.com.