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Contractor pitches SCADA-style automation to stop golf-course irrigation outages
Summary
C5 Industrial Automation told council that replacing an aging pump-control panel with a PLC and lightweight SCADA could alert staff remotely and reduce manual watering; the firm offered a phased approach and a ballpark combined estimate in the mid-six figures for full automation and pump-panel replacement.
Council heard a technical presentation about persistent irrigation failures at the municipal golf course and a proposed phased modernization to reduce manual labor and limit damage to greens.
Chris Ashley of C5 Industrial Automation described the immediate problem: an antiquated pump control panel that has required manual overrides, and a separate short in field wiring that left staff hand‑watering greens. "That panel has to mainly be ran in manual," Ashley said. "We're presenting ... removing all the other existing hardware, putting in a new PLC ... and then we would have a cellular modem that we would talk back to, a main unit in the pro shop." He said the system would allow staff to see status and receive fault notifications remotely and would reduce time-consuming troubleshooting.
Council discussed costs and phasing. Ashley gave a rough ballpark: similar municipal projects have ranged widely and a comprehensive upgrade for an 18‑hole course has been estimated (in other jurisdictions) in the mid‑six figures; he offered a focused pump‑panel and first‑phase automation package in the roughly $260,000–$290,000 ballpark as an initial, rough estimate and said he could have a more detailed quote in 4–6 weeks. Council members weighed long‑term savings in labor and water against upfront costs and asked staff to pursue a bid for the pump-panel portion as the highest near‑term priority.
Next steps: staff asked C5 to prepare a detailed, line‑item quote for pump-panel and initial automation work; the council encouraged a phased approach and requested that bids be returned for committee review and, if needed, special meeting action.
Why it matters: failure of the irrigation control system threatens the condition of the greens and requires substantial manual labor during extreme heat; automation aims to reduce risk and preserve a revenue‑generating city asset.
