It's been more than two decades since changes were made to the tree trimming policy at City Utilities in Springfield. But that's about to change. 

One of the recommendations that came after a review of the response to last year's ice storm,  was to take a second look at this policy.  And C-U wants you to be involved in that process.

Right now the city requires at least 6-feet between trees and power lines.  If the voltage is higher than normal, even more clearance is required.

Last year's ice storm was a hard lesson of what can happen if trees come down on power lines.

Since that time the city has increased its tree-trimming budget to $2.5-million and increased the number of trimming crews to twenty.    The next step is to get input from the public.

It's your chance to let City Utilities know what you think should happen with its tree trimming policy.  The subject, for some homeowners,  is an emotional one.

"People take pride in their trees and we take pride in the trees and being a tree city here in Springfield we take that very seriously but we have to mix that need to have the growth of trees and also people's need for power," says CU spokesman Joel Alexander.   "So we've got to come through there and take all that into consideration when we look at upgrading - if we're going to do any upgrading - to our tree trimming policies."

CU tonight will host the first of two public meetings on this issue.  Tonight's meeting is from 6-7:30 pm at the Library Station on North Kansas Expressway. The second will be held Tuesday, February 12 at 6:00 pm at the Library Center on South Campbell.