RAGBRAI: How can you help?

MT. PLEASANT — Mt. Pleasant community members filled seats in the Heatilator Performing Arts Center Monday night to learn more from the Mt. Pleasant RAGBRAI Committee about the specifics of the town acting as an overnight stop for the 51st RAGBRAI this summer.

As the overnight town for the sixth night of RAGBRAI on Friday, July 26, there are a lot of details that need hammered out with the help numerous volunteers.

“With this event coming to town we will need hundreds of volunteers, thankfully not 1000s, but probably around 400 or so,” Shelby Remick, who oversees hospitality, marketing, and publicity said as the stand-in for volunteer chair Melinda Huisinga.

Ways to volunteer will include greeting riders as they enter Mt. Pleasant, working the beverage garden during the downtown festival, participating on the planning committees, cleaning up after, and helping to decorate for the event’s theme “Make Yourself at Home.”

According to Remick, the hospitality team’s vision is a Hallmark movie or Americana for decorating for the event should be relatively simple.

“That’ll look like rocking chairs on front porches, flags down Washington Street, maybe some fire trucks here and there or tractors,” Remick explained. “We want to bring out the natural beauty in Mt. Pleasant because we do have a very beautiful town.”

Other important topics discussed at the town hall included sleeping arrangements, vendors, and public safety.

Lois Roth, who is reprising her role as the RAGBRAI House Coordinator, and Midwest Old Threshers Chief Executive Officer Terry McWilliams provided information on all things related to sleeping arrangements.

According to McWilliams, Midwest Old Threshers campground will function as they main area for RAGBRAI campers along with the old Iowa Wesleyan University campus and part of the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex. Roth stated that even with that much camping space, there would be more housing needs that the community could help fill.

Roth stated that additional accommodations don’t need to be much. Some examples of ways to help include offering spaces to pitch tents, floor space for sleeping bags or air mattresses, extra beds, parking, and/or access to showers and bathrooms.

“You don’t need to be an entertainer,” Roth said. “You don’t need to do a soft-shoe song and dance. You don’t have to cook. Riders are pretty well behaved and quite appreciative.”

Riders will arrive sometime in the midafternoon and depart by 9 a.m. the next day. Those interested in filling housing needs should reach out to Roth by email at ljrteach@gmail.com

As far as safety during the event, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and Mt. Pleasant Police Department are already working together to create plans to keep the festivities coming into and going out of the county safe and enjoyable.

“generally speaking with Old Threshers and RAGBRAI in the past, our issues have been with locals causing problems, not necessarily people coming in or the riders causing trouble,” Chief of Police Lyle Murray said. “We would like it to be as fun as possible and as safe as possible.”

Sheriff Rich McNamee shared that the biking route should run from approximately 6 a.m.-6 p.m. and encouraged Henry County citizens to plan ahead.

“You know, we don’t want you to be hauling grain with a tractor and wagon through the bicycles because that’d be a pain in the butt,” McNamee said. “So, if you have business in Salem or Hillsboro or down that way, make arrangements to hit the four-lane because they’re not traveling on the four-lanes which is a blessing.”

Hopefully many will have business in Mt. Pleasant during the event as the RAGBRAI Committee wants to offer many vendors for the festivities, especially local vendors. To encourage local vendors to fill needs, the cost of setting up will be significantly lower than the cost for non-local vendors. Local and nonprofit vendors will pay $200 to sell during RAGBRAI while non-local for-profit vendors will pay $500.

According to the Head of Vendors Lisa Goody, this fee will not only give vendors permission to serve during RAGBRAI, but it also will put them on an official map and streamline possible permit needs with the city. Additionally, those interested in participating as vendors can reach out to info@mpiowa.org and for specific questions about permit needs from a public health standpoint, individuals should reach out to Environmental Program Director Mike Shelangoski at mshelangoski@leecountyhd.org

The Mt. Pleasant RAGBRAI Committee will continue to release additional information as the even inches closer including the specific routes through town.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com