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Show Tribe accepts Jurrius resignation By Lag Warns Uintah Basin News Service The Ute Tribe Business Committee Com-mittee voted Thursday to accept the resignation of tribal financial advisor John Jurrius. A six-year employee of the tribe, Jurrius had proffered his resignation more than once since three new tribal leaders were sworn into office in May, said Business Committee Chairman Curtis Cesspooch. During a presentation made at last week's quarterly membership member-ship meeting, Jurrius detailed the difficulty he has experienced in working with the newly elected Business Committee due to a lack of trust. He reiterated his offer to resign. "The Business Committee decided not to wait until later to address his offer of resigning, Cesspooch said. "The Business Committee accepted his vocal offer of-fer to resign and passed a resolution resolu-tion accepting his resignation." Cesspooch said the resignation resigna-tion means that neither Jurrius nor his Jurrius Ogle Group are working for the Ute Indian Tribe. However, just how the resignation will effect Jurrius' leadership as CEO of Ute Energy and Ute Energy Holdings is still in question. Area cities question transportation district chip and seal policies Vernal and Naples city officials offi-cials raised questions at a Aug. 24 joint meeting with county officials over a decision regarding chip and seal project performed by Uintah Transportation Special Spe-cial Service District. For more than a decade, the district has carried out the projects proj-ects as they did the county road projects, at no cost. Now the cities are being asked to pay the district for the labor and materials. The materials can be purchased in quantity together with those for the county, lowering the cost for the cities, and that seems to be appealing. However, city officials want to know what makes them differ ent from the county. "Aren't we in Uintah County?" Coun-ty?" asked JoAnn Cowan, Vernal city council member. Naples representatives voiced their concern that there was not a dollar figure included in the letter to the commission with copies to Vernal and Naples cities. "The Uintah County, Vernal City and Naples City chip seal projects were accepted and combined com-bined into one project. Vernal City andNaplesCityprojects will be administered by the District with each entity beingbilled back for the cost of the project if the Cities accept this proposal. The TV ; - f (tS& Adrian Francisco, Sally Wagner and Quinn Balborn carry, out "Kid to Kid" promotion for literacy, sponsored by the Uintah County Literary Commission, the Youth City Council and KVEL. .DrauESVBflEGinr luutHn umikd scanao cvsiinsu ron bcifiiu en to ns.v.r. (Oil 1 - 000 At the same time, Jurrius' supporters are calling for removal re-moval of all six members of the Business Committee because of their dispute with the financial advisor. Opponents of the governing govern-ing board claim they are failing in their duties to support the tribe's "financial plan," which was crafted by Jurrius. Cesspooch and other Business Busi-ness Committeer - members say they have always supported the financial fi-nancial plan, but have difficulty working with ' Jurrius, citing a lack of trust and a lack of information, informa-tion, coupled with The tribe's financial advisor may be leaving his $62,500 a month post, but he maintains his role as CEO of Ute Energy at the same salary. his involvement in tribal politics. The rift among tribal members mem-bers is drawn along lines of those who support Jurrius and those who don't. These feelings caused emotions to run so high during Thursday's membership meeting that a shouting match erupted and minor physical confrontations confronta-tions occurred. Tribal security guards and Bureau of Indian Affairs police officers were called to the tribal auditorium. Noar-rests Noar-rests or injuries were reported. During the meeting, Jurrius advantage to Vernal and Naples City would be the savings to the Cities due to the quantity of the project resulting in a lower overall over-all bid price," reads the letter. "Chip and seal is one of the best things we can do to make our streets last longer," said Uintah County Commissioner Mike McKee. "If we could dictate what projects were accepted, it would have been paid for." Commissioner Dave Haslem, who sits on the district board, related that they have set up a rotation to re-do the chip and seal every five years. Next year would be the fifth year and the district doesn't want to drop it. "Vernal City needs to be considered, said Mayor Alan Mashburn. "The routes taken through Vernal are part of a major transportation route. If the reason they were denied is because of the amount of work going on, with the college and other projects, we need to have a discussion and resubmit to the TSSD." "Naples is different than Vernal Ver-nal city-Naples didn't endup on the priority list the commission had submitted," said Greg Piatt, Naples city planner. "We need to know what the costs are." "They wouldn't know until they get the bid," responded FC2EE I - 454 - 0140 Vernal detailed his successful efforts to put the tribe on solid financial footing over the past six years, along with the reasons for the recent $200 a month dechne in dividends. Some in attendance said the tension ten-sion at the meeting was apparently apparent-ly spurred by a report delivered by tribal attorney Scot Anderson, with the Denver-based firm of pavis, Graham and Stubbs. An derson's report updated tribal members on a lawsuit filed by two former tribal leaders ousted from their elect ed positions in 2003. According to court documents, Ron Wopsock and Luke Duncan were expelled from office by three of their col-leagues col-leagues aligned with Jurrius. The men had filed a lawsuit questioning question-ing the Bureau of Indian Affairs oversight of Jurrius' handling of tribal revenues, and are suing their co-workers on the Business Busi-ness Committee at the time for allegedly staging their expulsions under Jurrius' direction. However, many tribal members in attendance at the Thursday meeting, had the misunderstand- Haslem. Cowan stated the ugliest thing was in previous years when there was fighting with the special service district, and the council appreciates the relationship that has been established in the past fewyears. "Ihope wedon'tletone or two people drag us back into the hostility that there used to be with the district. One member on a board shouldn't be able to do that." "Elected officials should choose the projects," McKee declared. "They the district need to take a serious look at the suggestions coming from the entities." "And they did," responded Haslem. He said that this year is a little different. The most important im-portant project is the Main Street extension and 2000 West for the new UBATC-USU campus. The TSSD Board of Directors had looked at the prioritizing of county projects in June. The discussion about the chip and seal was that after all these years of doing it for the cities, they are being asked to pay, at the suggestion of one of the board members. And the board unanimously unani-mously agreed the cities should pay their share, as indicated in the letter to the cities. Tonight the chip and seal WANTED: All UH5 Alumni!! p us Cheerleaders Hi-Lites Flag Twirlers . Drill Team Other Alumni Talents Express ing that Anderson reported the two men are each suing the Ute Tribe for $20 million. According to court records, the two men have named former tribal leaders Maxine Natchees, Smiley Arrowchis, O. Roland McCookSr., John Jurrius, Susan Hammer, BIA Area Director Walter Mills, and former BIA Superintendent Chet Mills as individuals, and are seeking an estimated $5 million from them. Cesspooch said Anderson failed to clarify in his report, that the suit is not aimed at the Ute Tribe itself - the omission caused tempers tem-pers to flare, according to some in attendance. The new members of the Business Busi-ness Committee campaigned on platforms that they would audit Jurrius' dealings with the tribe's extensive oil and gas holdings. One of the first action items after being sworn into office in May by the newly organized Business Committee was to call for an audit au-dit of tribal finances dating back to Jurrius' hiring in 2000. The audit immediately drew criticism from Jurrius and his supporters, including six former Business Committee members who supported Jurrius during their time in office, but lost in their bids for re-election. topic is on the agenda of the regular business meeting of the Transportation Special Service District. Bassett will take the opportunity to explain their position to the district board. "Vernal City is disappointed. We have enjoyed their willingness to do this." With, fresh input from Uintah Uin-tah County and Vernal City, the board members of the TSSD will be reconsidering the issue at their business meeting on Wednesday evening. Reading Radio resumes broadcasts in September Adrian Francisco, Youth City Council Mayor, announced that after a year's absence the program pro-gram Reading Radio will return to the airwaves on Sept. 11, to be heard every Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. onAM920KVEL. "There are so many things competing with a family's time and attention, "saidSteve Evans, owner and general manager of the station, "and often reading is neglected because of the lack of social interaction. The Youth City Council, the Uintah County Literacy Commission and KVEL have combined forces to increase awareness of the benefits of literacy lit-eracy by proving that reading is fun." Each 25-minute broadcast features a youth-to-youth approach. ap-proach. KVEL Interns Quinn Balhorn and Sally Wagner will host and set the format and produce the show. The two high school students are already gaining gain-ing experience as behind-the-scenes technicians for Uintah High School, Utah State University Uni-versity and Utah Jazz games, for which they insert commercials, run the mix board, phone lines and feed, mixing in the network-as network-as needed. Francisco said she is in charge of finding readers, determining the theme and coordinating part each week's production. "For the first Reading Radio, Utah Highway Patrolman Brett Gehring, and Sheriffs Office Deputy Dustin Cheshire will be reading stories that emphasize Stephanie Atwood 789-3365 Keshia Chamberlain 789-0425 . Karine Simper . 789-1321 Robin McClellan 781-1851 Marsha Forsgren 789-7588 Erin Hall holds a trash bag as Madeline Duffin fills it with debris from the kids' canal along 1500 West. The two are part of the Vernal Youth City Council, which has take the responsibility of cleaning the canal area. Youth City Council cleans Kids' Canal Fifteen members of the Vernal Youth City Council met at the corner of 1500 West and Main Street on Thursday to clean the Kid's Canal Road. Cleaning the stretch of road that runs 500 North to 500 South is one of the Vernal Youth City Council's service projects. It took YCC members around 90 minutes to clean the road. "I think it is really good that a student organization can be socially responsible enough to clean the community, " said Katie Palmer, a member of YCC. The Vernal Youth City Council cleans the Kid's Canal Road three to four times annually. More than 15 bags of trash safety and the services of peace officers," said Francisco. Guests from the youth city council and also community will be invited to read each week, using their voices to portray the feelings and attitudes of the characters, just like "old time radio." As the children listen, they will be given a "Secret Word" which relates to the evening's stories. To prove they were listening, each student at a Uintah School District elementary school and Uintah Basin Christian Academy must write the secret word, his or her name and teacher's name on a slip of paper and turn it in at the school office on Wednesday morning. A drawing will be held that day and the winner at each school will receive a children's book from the Uintah County Literacy Lit-eracy Commission. Other prizes may be given to all participants if they become available through r VPS Call Tonya at 789-3 5 1 Nifty, LOOK up I" l' ""f MFTY XL Wednesday, September 5, 2007 B5 were collected in the several mile stretch. The club divided into two groups with half taking the southern portion and half taking the northern. "Picking up trash is fun," said MacKay Duffin. "Live life to the fullest. Pick up trash." The Kid's Canal clean up was organized by Sarah McPhie, a senior at Uintah High School. Once all the trash was collected and piled, YCC members were rewarded with snacks. Others, however, found a different sort of reward. "If anyone lost a nine-16ths wrench, I have it," said Erin Hall. "And you're not getting it back." donations. A radio message about Reading Read-ing Radio reminds parents and grandparents, "Children love stories. Whether you read or tell a story of your own, the child is learning how to visualize,' imagine, and also how words communicate ideas... Reading with you child improves communication, com-munication, builds confidence and expands your child's vision of the world." . Symone Massey, a member of Uintah County Literacy Commission Com-mission and coordinator of Reading Read-ing Radio, encourages parents and their children to tune in for . 30 minutes of quality literature and entertainment. For information on ways to assist in this venture, call the Youth City Council at 790-0876 to volunteer to read or Symone Massey at Grand Valley National Bank, 435-781-1001. 1 to place a classified. Nifty WHO'S froa&eHqhstNm |