FORT DUCHESNE, Uintah County — Members of the Ute Indian Tribe, concerned with plans by tribal leaders to withdraw $85 million held in trust by the federal government, have called for a special meeting with their elected leaders.

Legislation is required to allow the tribe to have total control over the "504 and 505" funds, which are earmarked for farming and water projects on the reservation. Tribal finance adviser John Jurrius and some Business Committee members are pressing Utah's congressional delegation to sponsor a bill that will remove the tribe's millions from the oversight of the federal government.

"We are trying to get it all out and in the open and we hope in the meeting people will be blunt and have their questions answered about everything," said petition organizer Joy Grant.

The process to request a special audience with the governing Business Committee is outlined in the tribe's constitution. More than 180 signatures were collected on the petition. Only 50 signatures are required.

"If you have any respect for the members of this tribe . . . you will be present at this meeting," Grant told four of the six Business Committee members who were there when she turned in the petition.

According to Grant, the meeting called by tribal members for Oct. 13 is needed even though a biannual general membership meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2.

Business Committee chair Maxine Natchees told petitioners that on Oct. 13 the committee already has a meeting it "cannot ignore," but said a review to find another time to meet with tribal members is forthcoming.

Grant said she can only recall two other times when the tribe's general membership has petitioned to discuss specific issues of concern with their leaders.

One of the two meetings occurred four years ago when tribal members wanted questions answered about tribal finance advisor John Jurrius' proposed financial plan for the Ute Tribe, prior to a referendum vote in 2001.

Ironically, it's the financial plan that is responsible for the petition calling for the special meeting this month. That's because the plan calls for the eventual transfer of the tribe's $242 million in water settlement funds. Jurrius has proposed transferring the millions held in trust for the tribe by the federal government into investments that will generate greater rates of return.

Under Jurrius' direction, tribal leaders withdrew $170 million last year from the Office of Trust Fund Management and placed it with Bear Stearns, a worldwide investment banking and brokerage firm, for reinvestment.

The move caught tribal members by surprise. Many, including at least one current Business Committee member, maintain they still need an accounting of how that money is being used, where it is and how secure it is.