The Sugar Land task force for the Convict Lease Memorial was divided into two subcommittees during a meeting Sept. 19 to ensure the right decision is made on the relocation of the human remains discovered on Fort Bend ISD's construction site property.

"We want to preserve the history and the bodies," said Douglas Brinkley, Sugar Land City Assistant Manager. "The city doesn't want to decide on its own. We want the help from the task force to make the right decision."

The first group, the burial location committee, has nine members. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People president Lynette Reddix was appointed chair person. The group is responsible for determining the appropriate relocation for the human remains.

Other members in the burial committee include Dr. Theresa Jach with the University of Houston, Veronica Sopher with FBISD, Joe Chesser with the City of Sugar Land, and local residents Ben Williams and Andrea Collins.

The second group, the interment committee, has 8 members. Community activist and historian Reginald Moore was appointed chair person. The group's objective is to agree on a memorial service design and recommend burial vessels and grave markers.

The task force voted in favor of DNA testing the human remains in September. Testing will cost $170,000. Brinkley said donors are needed to pay for the DNA testing.

The next meeting is open to the public and will be on Oct. 3. A location is to be determined.