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Nauvoo council swears in mayor and council, adopts meeting rules and makes several organizational appointments
Summary
At a Nov. 3 special meeting, the Nauvoo Town Council swore in Mayor Terry Burgett and five councilmembers, appointed Deborah Barton as mayor pro tem, retained a CPA firm to review town books, adopted meeting procedures and confirmed the town attorney and clerk.
The Nauvoo Town Council met in a special called session on Nov. 3, 2025, to swear in the mayor and new council for the 2025–2029 term and carry out required organizational business. Probate Judge Lee Tucker administered the Oaths of Office to Mayor Terry Burgett and councilmembers; the council recessed at 10:13 a.m. and reconvened at 1:00 p.m. at Nauvoo Town Hall for organizational votes.
The council appointed Deborah Barton as mayor pro tem after a motion from Councilmember Christian Dill and a second from Olivia Allbritton; “All were in favor,” and the motion carried. Mayor Burgett was authorized to retain Kellum, Wilson, and Associates of Jasper at its standard rates to investigate the town’s books and accounting system and recommend improvements.
Councilmembers set the regular meeting schedule by passing Resolution 20251103-2 to hold meetings on the third Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at Nauvoo Town Hall. The roll call for that resolution recorded YEAS — Olivia Allbritton, Deborah Barton, Christian Dill, Denice Perry; NAYS — Melinda Wills. The motion carried.
Mayor Burgett introduced Ordinance 20251103-3, adopting council meeting procedures, and read the ordinance in full. The council suspended the rules for immediate consideration by unanimous roll call and then adopted the ordinance unanimously after a motion from Dill and a second from Wills.
The council also confirmed Stephens and Stephens, LLC as the town attorney for the 2025–2029 administration (Resolution 20251103-4), appointed Nicole Garner as town clerk to serve concurrently with the current mayor and council (Resolution 20251103-5), and ratified the town’s depositories—First National Bank and Synovus—and the authority for the mayor and/or clerk to pay regular recurring expenses (Resolution 20251103-6). Those motions passed by recorded YEAS — Allbritton, Barton, Dill, Perry, Wills; NAYS — none (as recorded).
Mayor Burgett announced the next regular meeting is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 21, at 10:00 a.m. Christian Dill moved to adjourn at 1:32 p.m.; Melinda Wills seconded and the council voted to adjourn.
Why it matters: The votes set the council’s procedural rules, leadership roles and administrative appointments for the 2025–2029 term and authorized an external CPA review of the town’s accounting—an oversight step that could lead to recommendations affecting future financial controls and reporting.
