Kevin Riggs walked out of the board room to arms full of hugs.

During Tuesday's meeting, Franklin aldermen voted unanimously for the Fuller Story, an initiative by local pastors and a local historian to place markers about African-American history in downtown Franklin.

More:'The war is over:' Franklin moves forward with location for African-American markers

After concern over placement, Franklin aldermen agreed on a plan to place two African-American history markers in the downtown circle on the sidewalk near the Confederate monument. The remaining three markers and U.S. Colored Troops statue would go on the public square near the historic courthouse.

Language for four of the five markers has already gone through the city's battlefield commission. One more marker about the Battle of Franklin will need its language approve.

"It feels wonderful," Riggs said. "Now we are onto the implementation of the language and fundraising for the sculpture."

What the markers will depict

Originally at four, the group will now place five markers around the public square.

Two will go near the roundabout, where they will tell the story of the market house that sold slaves and explain the Battle of Franklin. Those markers will stand on the concrete portion of the downtown's center.

More:National tragedies inspired group to tell history of slavery, civil rights in Franklin

"This is part of the whole story," Battle of Franklin Trust CEO and historian Eric Jacobson said. "The truth is they won’t go to the battlefield, but they will go downtown. White, black, Confederate, Union: these markers will show the mess that it was. Here’s what these people did. Knowledge is always a good thing."

The remaining three will stand on the portion of the square near the historic courthouse. Those markers will talk about reconstruction, U.S. Colored Troops and the riot of 1867.

Pastors and historians suggested those locations because of their prominence to where events on the markers took place.

Moving forward despite suit

The judgment lawsuit over who owns the public square is sitting still.

Most recently, the City of Franklin asked the United Daughters of the Confederacy to admit in a discovery document that the organization doesn't own the public square.

More:Franklin asks Daughters of the Confederacy to 'admit they don't own the square' in new filing

More:Daughters of the Confederacy reluctantly accepts Vanderbilt deal

The group previously threatened to sue the city if any markers were placed on the public square, which they have argued they own.

Reach Emily West at erwest@tennessean.com or 615-613-1380 and on Twitter at @emwest22.