Local officials and business owners are disappointed that Gov. Tom Wolf didn't elevate Butler County to the yellow COVID-19 reopening phase Friday, but some were not surprised.

Wolf placed 24 counties, including those surrounding Butler County, in the yellow phase that allows some businesses to open and partially lifts the stay-at-home rule for residents.

“The word disappointed would be an understatement,” said Leslie Osche, county commissioner chairwoman. “I want the governor to come here and tell these businesses they can't open. I'm not carrying that message.”

Many business owners have sent emails to commissioners detailing the struggles they've endured since Wolf ordered non-life-sustaining businesses closed in mid-March.

Osche said she wants to hear from more businesses because she is forwarding those emails to the Governor's Action Team Southwest regional office in Pittsburgh.

“I'm specifically asking them to send it to us in writing. I am forwarding all of them to the governor's Southwest office. We need to flood them with stories about what is happening to our business community,” Osche said.

Flo Iman, owner of Flo's Gymnastics and FCA Gems in Sarver, said she emailed a letter to the governor's Southwest office asking to reopen the business she started in 1976.

“March 12 was the last day in the gym. I have not collected any revenue since then,” Iman said.

Her staff of six employees have been conducting virtual classes at no cost to clients.

“I haven't charged my clients one cent. I'm trying to keep them engaged and keep their spirits up,” Iman said.

She said she received approval for a federal Payroll Protection Program loan, which covers employee wages, rent, mortgages and utility costs for eight weeks.

“If I can't open in eight weeks, my employees are likely to go on unemployment,” she said.

Her 9,000-square-foot gym is large enough to spread out her students and limit class sizes to 10, Iman said.

She learned from Osche that her gym wouldn't be allowed to resume classes under the state's yellow business reopening plan and would have to wait until the green designation is put in place.

The green designation removes all restrictions, but requires business to adhere to safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Dick Hadley, chairman of the Cranberry Township supervisors, said he wasn't surprised the governor didn't place the county in the yellow reopening phase.

He said the speculation has taken place since Wolf announced the colored-coded reopening phases and lobbying by counties to get added to the yellow list created false hope in Butler County.

Wolf's announcement shows that he is sticking to his original plan for a gradual reopening, Hadley said.

“I'm not surprised by the announcement today,” he said.

Hadley said businesses need to reopen to get people back to work, but reopening must be done safely.

Butler Mayor Ben Smith said he was disappointed that the county was left of the yellow list.

“I would say I'm disappointed. I understand the need for caution, but it seems like we met the criteria,” he said.

Small businesses that can let one customer inside at a time and other businesses that don't require close contact should have been allowed to reopen, Smith said.

Nancy Gifford, owner of Double Image Styling Salon in Butler, said she hasn't had any income since the shop closed March 19 and her elderly clients need service.

“We have elderly clients that actually haven't had their hair washed since March 19, but we're not essential,” Gifford said sarcastically. “They come in once a week for a wash and set. They can't do it themselves.”

She said her 22 employees including her husband, Mike, who is the business manager, have been furloughed, even though she has received a Payroll Protection Program loan to temporarily cover their salaries.

Julie Sebock, who co-owns the real estate firm Clear Choice Enterprises with her husband, Pete, said she was disappointed by Wolf's announcement, but not surprised.

“I'm just disappointed. There seems to be no end in sight,” she said.

She said agents can offer virtual tours of homes for sale, but can't take buyers inside.

“If we have a seller who wants to list their home because they are moving or because of an estate, it's not a good idea to list virtually when you can't show it,” Sebock said. “Buyers want to look, but all they can do is look at photos and buy sight unseen.”

She said people are allowed to sell their homes themselves.

A rally to protest Wolf's decision is being organized by Butler Area School Board member Bill Halle. The rally is being held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Diamond Park in Butler.