An estimated 100 people turned out for a March 4 town hall meeting at Jefferson-Scranton High School to learn more about plans surrounding Jefferson’s role as an overnight host town for up to 20,000 visitors through RAGBRAI® 2008.

Jefferson has been selected as an overnight host community for the first time since 1989, with the riders staying here Monday, July 21.

Three other Greene County towns are also on the route, the full details of which were announced for the first time on March 9 in the Des Moines Sunday Register. The cyclists will come through Scranton on July 21, enroute to Jefferson, and will go through Grand Junction and Dana on July 22, on their way to Ames.

RAGBRAI® officials expect a large turnout in Jefferson, given its proximity to Des Moines and its location on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. In addition to the estimated 11,500 riders expected to be in town, several thousand support crew members will stay overnight as well.

Executive committee members Chuck and Carla Offenburger, Chad and Ashley Schwander and Don and Jean Van Gilder emphasized to the audience at the recent town hall meeting that the committee’s goal is for Jefferson to be the “it” town on this year’s RAGBRAI® route. They said that will require the volunteer efforts and cooperation of the entire community. The event is expected to generate a local economic impact that could range from $400,000 to $1 million.

The executive committee addressed the validity of several rumors that have circulated among Jefferson residents in recent weeks, most notably speculation surrounding vendor fees. Vendor fees, which will likely vary among local and non-local vendors as well as for-profit and non-profit vendors, have not been set. A fee schedule will be determined in the coming weeks as budget needs are determined.

Vendors will be listed in a special tabloid publication, which will be distributed to riders in Harlan, the July 20 stop on RAGBRAI®, and will also be included on the local shuttle bus route for riders.

Committee members also addressed several questions related to entertainment, which will be free and open to the public. Entertainment committee chair Andy Krieger said there will likely be two separate stages, with one serving as a site for entertainment in the afternoon and early evening. A separate stage will feature one or two bands opening for a headlining band or musician. All events will conclude by midnight.

The housing committee, headed by Angie Chapman, will begin to field housing requests from riders May 1, the date that participants will be notified that they have been registered for the event. Local residents interested in hosting riders can visit www.jeffersonragbrai.com at a later date to complete and submit a host housing form, and the housing committee will work to pair hosts with riders. Campgrounds will also be established throughout the city.

The executive committee has selected subcommittee chairs, and bi-weekly committee meetings are being held. The event Internet site, www.jeffersonragbrai.com, will be continuously updated with information for residents, vendors and ride participants.

They also said they will coordinate with RAGBRAI® planning officials in Scranton, Grand Junction and Dana to ensure the best reception possible throughout the county.