Matt Wetrich, one of eight members of the executive committee planning for the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa – RAGBRAI® – overnight stop in Jefferson Monday, estimates there were upwards of 500 volunteers involved in the massive effort of hosting 25,000 visitors. “It was a lot of people I’ve never seen before… It took and army and we got it,” Wetrich said. “That’s one of the beautiful things, was all the people getting involved, and we look forward to them getting involved in other things now.”
He said feedback was good. “I really think we shined. Thanks for everything on a lot of different angles.”
Wetrich, who is a Jefferson city council member, talked briefly about the RAGBRAI experience at the Tuesday evening council meeting.
Wetrich said the “county and city people were outstanding in how responsive they were. Everything we asked for, they were right on it.” He thanked them as well as law enforcement city building and zoning officer Nick Sorensen.
Councilman Dave Sloan told “the city guys” they had done “a pretty good job these last few days with RAGBRAI.”
The Bell Tower remained open until well past 10 pm, with more than 1,200 visitors going to the top of the tower. Volunteer coordinator Pat Richards said Tuesday she heard many compliments about Jefferson, the flourishing downtown, and how well visitors were being treated during their visit. Others just enjoyed the view of the countryside, the roof top art, and how pretty Thomas Jefferson Gardens looked from the
