By CINDY BISHOP

cindy.bishop@gaflnews.com

CORDELE — Just how big does a dog catcher’s truck need to be?

That was the question posed to Cordele’s Public Safety Director Dwayne Orrick Tuesday night during the Cordele City Commission meeting by at least two commissioners.

Bids were opened during the meeting for the Ford F-250 truck with the low bidder being Brannen Ford in Unadilla at $18,136. The total cost of the new truck, however, will be $25,000 once the pickup is sent to a company in Florida for the special bed to be added.

“That’s a lot of money for a dog catcher’s truck,” said Commissioner Jimmy Black.

“That’s right, I mean a lot of communities are experiencing budget constraints including our own...this is a lot of money,” Commissioner A.J. Rivers added.

Orrick said the reason particular truck body is needed is because of the back end that will be installed.

“It won’t be just a regular truck bed, it’ll have special compartments to keep the live and dead animals separated,” Orrick said. “And we plan to use this truck for at least 10 years or more.”

After several more minutes of discussion regarding the truck and confirming that is was a budgeted item, the Commission approved the purchase.

In other business:

• Commissioners approved providing a letter of support for a new development of 50 or more affordable, single-family residential houses. Orchard Corners will be built on a 15-acre tract on property owned by Columbus Lee Williams, near Southwestern Elementary School.

• The Commission voted to reappoint Howard Rainey and Allene Tripp to the Downtown Development Authority for four-year terms.

• Commissioners approved a low bid of $7,500 for K&H Construction for roof repairs on the pump house at the wastewater treatment plant. They also approved a low bid of $6,792 from Barge Heating & Air to replace the air conditioning and heating unit in the old section of the Cordele-Crisp Carnegie Library.