The Livonia City Council on Nov. 5 approved an emergency appropriation for replacement of fire alarms, speakers and strobes at the Jackie Kirksey Recreation Center after staff found dozens of strobes were not operational and existing systems were out of sync.

Ted Davis, director of Parks and Recreation, told council technicians identified 103 strobes in the facility; 22 were non-operational and the mix of equipment ages caused timing differences between strobes. Davis said the unsynchronized strobes could create a seizure risk for susceptible individuals. Because replacement of the 22 units required replacement and synchronization of the entire system, Parks requested an emergency appropriation and the council placed the emergency procurement on the consent agenda.

Davis said the work brought the facility into compliance with current fire code and was urgent. The council moved to approve the emergency expenditure on consent and thanked Parks staff for acting before the condition caused harm.