Counties are threatening to support businesses that want to take legal action against Gov. Tom Wolf's administration.

The frustration of Butler County's businesses and residents has seemingly boiled into a letter sent Tuesday to the governor from the Butler County Commissioners, along with commissioners from three other counties, asking him to elevate the counties' status out of the red phase within his plans to reopen.

“I think we're ready to let people come out,” said Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau.

Cohen said the governor did the right thing to stall the virus with his initial stay-at-home order, but keeping the order running this long has negatively impacted people and businesses. He said the time has come to reopen.

“He's got a heavy weight on his shoulders. I think he's doing the best he can,” Cohen said. “There's gotta come a point where people need to use their own judgment to do things they need to do.”

Cohen has watched over the past two months as businesses throughout the tourism industry, including those in Butler County, take large financial hits due to the stay-at-home orders.

He said if the county does reopen soon, he would use the extra time to help more restaurants and support other businesses that struggled during the closure. However, he pointed out that hotels may not see immediate relief.

“On the hotel side, people aren't traveling like they used to,” Cohen said. “Just because Gov. Wolf lets people come, I don't know that that'll be enough.”

Slippery Rock resident Ronald Brendlinger disagreed with the commissioners decision to explore legal action. He said he would prefer if the orders continued until medical professionals were comfortable with their understanding of the coronavirus.

Brendlinger expressed concern the virus will continue to mutate and cause further, future outbreaks. He is also worried that people value a dollar more than their neighbor's health.

“I don't want us to end up in a history book,” Brendlinger said, adding that he hopes people allow medical professionals to do their job and trust their judgement. “I have to have faith in them.”

In addition to Butler County, Tuesday's letter to the governor supporting legal action also represented and expressed concerns from the county commissioners of Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.

The Republican-led Greene County Board of Commissioners at its agenda meeting Wednesday approved, in a 2-1 vote, to move forward on joining the legal action.

In a motion that will be voted on at the Greene County board's regular meeting Thursday, officials propose allowing the county solicitor “to work with the solicitors of the other participating counties in Southwestern, Pennsylvania, in filing suit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Governor Wolf in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Greene County Board Chairman Mike Belding, who voted in favor of the proposed motion, declined comment until after Thursday's vote.

Business owner Steve Braden said the initial closures and orders were unnecessary and unprecedented. He said he does not remember a time where a pandemic occurred and healthy people were quarantined in addition to the sick.

Braden owns Upper Crust sandwich shop and Check Your Mate detective agency, both on Butler's Main Street.

He said his detective agency received maybe two calls since the closures began, which is a low number for him. His sandwich shop is also struggling to order all of its supplies and has fewer customers with just being open for takeout.

“I agree with the commissioners 150 percent,” Braden said. “Safe reopening, but we shouldn't be included with Allegheny County. It's apples and oranges.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Health released a map showing its breakdown of the state into six regions. Butler County was included in the southwest region along with Allegheny and Beaver counties.

“Most of the clients that come to my restaurants feel the same way,” Braden said. “They all talk about it. Everyone is kind of feeling that it's time to get back to normal.”

Braden said he would like to see businesses open as soon as possible. He said hopefully it happens soon enough that the lawsuit can be avoided.

“I hope it's just a motivator and gets the governor's attention and that it doesn't have to be played out,” Braden said. “I don't want to see taxpayer money spent frivolously if it's not necessary, but I agree with their course of action.”