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FD readies for RAGBRAI

Sunkissed Meadows to be main campground

-Messenger file photo
RAGBRAI riders make their way up the hill on Iowa Highway 7 on their way into Fort Dodge during RAGBRAI 2015.

The thousands of bicyclists expected to converge on Fort Dodge as part of RAGBRAI this summer will find food and entertainment downtown.

The City Council on Monday approved some items needed to get ready for the July 26 influx of bicyclists.

The second leg of the annual trek will be between Sac City and Fort Dodge. The bicyclists will arrive in Fort Dodge July 26 and stay overnight.

City Manager David Fierke told the council that the former Sunkissed Meadows Golf Course will be the main campground for the bicyclists.

He said Central Avenue between the City Square and 12th Street will be the vendor area for food, beverages and other items.

Eighth Street downtown will be the entertainment area, he added.

The council unanimously approved an agreement with RAGBRAI organizers Monday.

Under the terms of that agreement, RAGBRAI will:

• Pay the city $15,000.

• Donate $15,000 to a charitable organization of the city’s choice.

• Provide stages and signs for the entertainment area.

• Give the city access to a page on the RAGBRAI website.

• Obtain an insurance policy in the amount of $1 million per occurrence and $5 million total with the city named as the insured.

The city will:

• Give RAGBRAI access to the city July 25-27.

• Allow RAGBRAI to create a sponsor expo area.

• Recruit volunteers for the event.

• Clean up trash.

• Provide overnight camping for 15,000 people.

• Arrange for a third party to sell beer to participants and to receive all profits for those sales.

• Secure live entertainment for the event.

The council also approved the first reading of an ordinance related to RAGBRAI. Among other things, it suspends the rules for temporary signs while the bicyclists are in town.

It also sets a fee for food vendors. For commercial businesses, that fee will be $700.

As originally presented, the ordinance had a $300 fee for nonprofit organizations that want to sell food. Councilman Jeff Halter convinced his colleagues to reduce that to $150.

That change was approved. The measure must be approved two more times to become law.

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