NATCHEZ — The limbs and branches left in Gustav’s wake are on schedule to become a thing of the past.

On Thursday Public Works Director Eric Smith said the city will begin debris removal on Monday or Tuesday.

“It’s a big job,” he said.

And to aid Public Works in that job other city departments will contribute their employees.

Smith said workers form Natchez Water Works and the recreation department will assist Public Works in the clean-up effort.

Approximately 20 workers will stay on the south side of Natchez and work across the city, Smith said.

To guarantee that all storm debris is removed, crews will be armed with city maps and will highlight each street as it’s cleaned.

Smith said residents can help work crews by moving their debris out to the sidewalk since city workers cannot go on private property to collect debris.

“In no way will be able to go on private property,” he said.

Smith added that if residents are disposing of debris like tree branches, they should be cut into small pieces so that heavy equipment can gather the pile easily.

“We can do it in one scoop and be done with it,” he said.

And while the city is planning to start their clean up, the effort within the county is already well under way.

Adams County Supervisor S.E. “Spanky” Felter said the county began its debris removal approximately two days after the storm passed.

Felter said many of the county’s roads were blocked with downed trees and the county’s road crew had to go to work immediately.

“We could not wait,” he said. “We had to get moving.”

And next week the county’s effort should start moving a little faster.

Board President Henry Watts said the county recently purchased a grappling truck to quicken the debris removal. Watts described the truck as having an arm, with a claw-like loader, that drops debris into its own truck.

The new machine was purchased for just over $100,000.

And like the city, county workers cannot go on private property to remove debris. Debris should be cut into 10 foot lengths and moved to the sidewalk Watts said.

“We’ll come by and pick it up,” he said.

And though there has been no official word yet both city and county officials are waiting for the area do be declared a disaster area to qualify for state and federal reimbursements.

Until that day comes Watts said the county will be keeping a thorough record of all its storm related expenditures.

“We’re keeping our receipts,” he said.