She says no, he says no

What do the two key players say about the future of the Port Angeles graving yard?

There isn’t a future, according to Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Chairwoman Frances Charles and state Transportation Secretary Douglas MacDonald.

Charles and MacDonald spoke separately by telephone with the PDN while politicians, labor leaders and business representatives talked about the graving yard’s future Wednesday afternoon at a special Port Angeles City Council meeting.

“We have no intention of changing our position for the purposes of renegotiating with the Washington State Department of Transportation,” said Charles.

Said MacDonald:

“We believe that that was the tribe’s position at the time we took the action we took,” speaking of his department’s Dec. 21 order to stop construction at the yard.

“And that’s all we know at this point.”

Or, as the tribal chairwoman added: “Talk to our lawyer.”