VIDALIA &045; You might have to pick which pooches you like best.

At Tuesday’s board meeting, Vidalia aldermen voted to pre-file an ordinance to limit the number of dogs residents may keep at their houses.

Town Attorney Jack McLemore said the ordinance will not include dogs under the age of 28 months &045; which allows people to keep a litter of puppies.

The idea behind the ordinance is actually to cut down on dogs not being cared for properly and being able to roam free.

Residents could apply for a permit to keep more than five dogs.

&uot;If they aren’t doing what they should be doing (with caring for the dogs) we can deny the permit,&uot; McLemore said. &uot;I like dogs, but this will take care of some of the problems we’ve been having.&uot;

Aldermen approved the ordinance &045; with Carter Warner, who has six dogs, voting against the measure.

But McLemore assured Warner he can apply for a permit to keep his pets.

The permit would not cost residents any money, McLemore said.

Aldermen also approved two other ordinances at the meeting.

One of the ordinances would allow the town to grant permits for the sale of alcohol at public events.

Another ordinance would require a permit before a resident can build a swimming pool at his or her home.

&uot;The town needs to know when someone does major work involving the water line,&uot; McLemore said.

Also Tuesday, Mayor Hyram Copeland told aldermen the town is seeking an $85,000 grant from the Rails to Trails program to help extend the walking path along the riverfront.

The walking path would be extended about 1,500 feet, Copeland said.

The area includes an old railroad track path.

&uot;From one end of the riverfront to the other we’ll have a walkway,&uot; Copeland told aldermen Tuesday.

The grant would be matched by a $45,000 contribution from the city, which Copeland said he hopes can come from leftover state funds allocated in capital outlay money.

In other news on the riverfront development, Copeland said workers hope to have blacktop laid by the end of the week for the rest of the parking lot under the bridge, which will link the current lot to the RV park.