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Director Reyes says failing UPS batteries require emergency replacement; board to ratify at next meeting
Summary
The IKE Operational Board discussed a late, emergency invoice from Mercury Systems to replace failing UPS batteries that back up the IKE 911 Center. Director Reyes described multiple failing batteries; the board moved the invoice and the board attorney recommended formal ratification on the next agenda; no roll-call vote on the emergency item is recorded in the transcript.
The IKE Operational Board on Feb. 19, 2025, considered a late emergency invoice from Mercury Systems for replacement of uninterruptible power system (UPS) batteries that back up the IKE 911 Center. The item was moved and seconded, and board members discussed whether the purchase qualified as an emergency and should later be ratified on the record.
Director Reyes, who presented the need, said a recent maintenance check "revealed multiple failing batteries" in the UPS chain that provides backup power for the center, creating an urgent need to replace the units to preserve 911 operations. Reyes told the board that the life span of such equipment often runs five to six years and that immediate replacement was necessary to maintain redundancy.
The invoice amount for the Mercury Systems work is transcribed in multiple places in the meeting record: the transcript lists the figure as $27,600 in one line and $27,678.54 in another. Board members and counsel discussed the item as an emergency procurement; the board attorney recommended adding a formal ratification of the prior approval to the next meeting agenda "just to make sure that all open meetings act requirements are complied with," she said.
The transcript does not record a subsequent roll-call vote to approve the emergency Mercury Systems invoice during this meeting. Secretary and board counsel described the correct procedural step: document the action at the next meeting as a ratification so the open meetings record is clear.
The board did not take additional formal steps on the record at this meeting beyond moving and seconding the item and discussing the need to ratify. Next steps recorded in the meeting: the board will place a ratification motion on the next agenda and staff (Mr. Jusic and the secretary) will assist in preparing that item for formal recordation.
Why it matters: the UPS system supports the IKE 911 Center’s backup power and redundancy. Delay or failure to replace the batteries could jeopardize the center’s ability to maintain emergency communications during an outage; the board’s decision to document the action through ratification preserves compliance with public-meeting requirements while allowing urgent maintenance to proceed.
The board moved on to other agenda items; the meeting adjourned at 10:17 a.m.
