NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez is sprucing up the Natchez City Council Chambers in preparation for the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected city officials.

Mayor-elect Larry L. “Butch” Brown said he asked the city to prune the hedges, trees, and flower beds, as well as thoroughly clean the inside of the building.

“I made the request,” Brown said. “I told the city officials that if it was a problem, they could consider me an anonymous donor to pay for the work if I needed to.”

Brown said he told the city he would pay for the work to the outside of the building, which he said would cost approximately $600. He said, though, he did not believe he should have to pay for the work done to the inside of the city-owned building.

“But if they tell me I need to pay for that, then I will; it doesn’t make a difference to me,” Brown said. “I think once every 12 years is not too much (work).”

City Engineer David Gardner said the city hired out the landscaping work for the chambers. He said the city will handle the expenses, and he did not believe it would be necessary for Brown to pay for the work.

“We can handle that; it’s a city-owned building,” Gardner said. “It’s within (Public Works’) scope of work, and it’s routine work that needed to be done. I believe surely the city can handle $600 for work for one of its buildings.”

City Engineer David Gardner said the work at the chambers is long overdue.

“This is a good excuse for us to do it,” he said.

Gardner said Natchez Public Works will be cleaning up and power washing the building.

The inside of the building is being swept, mopped and dusted, and the carpet is being cleaned and old plaster removed from the walls, Gardner said.

“It’s probably been a long time since that building has been thoroughly cleaned,” Gardner said. “It needed to be done.”

The swearing-in ceremony will at 10 a.m. July 2.