NATCHEZ &045; Natchez officials almost got a gift from the Mississippi Department of Transportation Thursday &045; but legally the city has to pay $1 for a truck to help clean up litter.

Natchez public works will use the bright orange truck to transport inmates to pick up litter throughout the city.

&uot;MDOT has a program where they pay a law officer for the city or county to take five inmates out to pick up litter,&uot; said Wayne Brown, transportation commissioner for the Southern District of Mississippi. &uot;Part of our maintenance program is to keep litter off the highways.&uot;

MDOT spends about $2 million per year on its litter program, Brown said.

In addition to its own programs and its partnerships with cities and counties, MDOT has paid for advertising that asks residents to clean up streets. &uot;Our latest successful campaign is a series of TV ads that say, ‘I’m not your mama,’&uot; Brown said.

Natchez Public Works Director Richard Burke said the city was already picking up litter before MDOT started its program. &uot;Because (of MDOT) we’re able to double our crew,&uot; Burke said. &uot;We really appreciate this program and look forward to it continuing.&uot;

MDOT officials were in town this week for the agency’s annual maintenance convention and leadership training, which took place at the Natchez Convention Center. The convention rotates among several areas of the state.

MDOT Director Larry L. &uot;Butch&uot; Brown said transportation officials enjoy coming to Natchez for the convention.

&uot;There’s a lot of things to do,&uot; said Brown, a former mayor of Natchez. &uot;It’s a good, pleasant place to train, and it’s safe.&uot;