A. An "emergency purchase" is procurement that is not normally possible without the consent of the county board or designee but is required by necessity during a time when such approval is not able to be sought. An emergency purchase arises if immediate procurement is essential to prevent delays which may vitally affect the life and health of citizens of the county. Emergency purchases shall be classified as those purchases which ensure public health and safety, protect public property, and limit county liability. An emergency purchase may be authorized by a department head.
B. If circumstances and conditions necessitate an emergency purchase a department head may purchase directly, without purchase order, any goods and services whose immediate purchase is essential to prevent delays in the work to avert such an emergency. Time and circumstance permitting, department heads should first seek the approval of the county board chair or county administrator, but should not thereby unduly delay an emergency purchase.
C. Following completion of work on an emergency purchase situation, department heads shall retroactively and immediately follow up with normal purchasing procedures and shall file a properly completed purchase order/claim for all goods and services purchased for the emergency work and shall submit a full written report of the circumstances of the emergency. Depending on the cost of the goods and services purchased, appropriate purchase authorizations shall be made and a purchase/claim order issued for the record.
D. Emergency purchases are subject to final approval of the Jo Daviess County board and shall be forwarded by the county administrator to the Jo Daviess County board prior to the meeting date for final approval. (Ord. 2011-4, 5-10-2011)