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Brooklet swears in three councilmembers; Sheila Wentz elected mayor pro tem
Summary
The City of Brooklet on Jan. 15 swore in Rebecca Kelly, Phillip Oliver and Sheila Wentz, elected Wentz as mayor pro tem, and recognized two police promotions; staff also updated council on FEMA reimbursements and a generator grant.
Mayor L.W. "Nicky" Gwinnett, Jr. opened the Brooklet City Council meeting on Jan. 15 and administered the oath of office to newly elected council members Rebecca Kelly (Post #3), Phillip Oliver (Post #4) and Sheila Wentz (Post #5). After the oaths, Councilwoman Rebecca Kelly moved and Councilman Brad Anderson seconded a motion to elect Sheila Wentz as mayor pro tem for 2026; the motion carried unanimously.
Interim Police Chief Sergeant Nickki Garman recognized two promotions within the Brooklet Police Department, naming Justin Odom as an advanced patrol officer and Zachary Stender as a corporal, and thanked officers' families for their support. Interim City Manager Lori Phillips briefed the council on financial and grant matters, saying the sanitation fund had been temporarily over-expended to pay hurricane-related cleanup costs while the city awaited FEMA reimbursement and that FEMA funds have since been received; Phillips said accounting adjustments would reflect those reimbursements. Phillips also reported that a previously awarded generator grant from 2024 has been reactivated following the death of the prior project lead and that the city plans to install two generators (a well house and public works) at a local cost of $13,000.
The council approved routine procedural items including the amended agenda, the Dec. 18, 2025 meeting minutes, and December financial reports, each by unanimous votes. The meeting concluded with scheduling the city’s 2nd Annual Hot Dog Social and Town Hall for March 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Randy Newman Community Center.
