CHENEY – The City Council authorized a nearly $60,000 contract at its Feb. 25 meeting to keep the city’s trees away from powerlines, but held off on approving a resolution to increase the amount charged to developers on new connections to the water system.

Asplundh Tree Experts were the lowest of three bidders on the city’s line clearance contract, coming in with a weekly rate of $5,872.40, totaling $58,724 for the 10-week project scheduled to run May 1 – July 10. The work will be done on the city’s system only and in conjunction with city standards, which begin by requiring all v...