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Group seeks city land or lease to mark Black school sites at Quitman 'Y'
Summary
The Black School Sites Council asked the board to lease or allow placement of ground‑level commemorative features at the town 'Y' in Quitman; staff said MDOT will permit only flush ground treatments on state right‑of‑way and recommended city ownership or a city project to place vertical items such as flagpoles.
Representatives of the Black School Sites Council asked the board for help marking historical Black school sites and creating a visible commemoration at the 'Y' entrance area in Quitman.
"We are hoping that we can have access to what term as the Y," said the group's spokesperson, who described plans to install engraved bricks and ground‑level markers to tell the story of schools that served Black students from roughly 1870 to 1970. The presenters said the Mississippi Department of Transportation will only permit items that are flush with the ground on state right‑of‑way; the state would not allow vertical features like flagpoles on DOT property unless the property was turned back to the city.
City staff agreed to research property lines and DOT right‑of‑way limits and offered to meet on site with council members and aldermen to identify feasible locations. "They will permit the city to do it and we are free to do whatever we want as long as it's flush with the ground," Jonathan Tanner said, describing the DOT guidance shared with staff.
Council representatives said they would like engraved bricks and four flags (U.S., state, Christian and county) if a city‑owned location could be identified. The board did not take final action on a lease but authorized staff to investigate land ownership and right‑of‑way boundaries and follow up with the group.
