Example of one of the wayfinding pole
Example of one of the wayfinding pole

A new project in Jefferson has hit a snag and won’t be done before the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) makes its overnight stop in Jefferson on Monday.

Jefferson City Administrator Mike Palmer says all of the poles for the City’s wayfinding project have been installed throughout town. However, a key element is missing.

“Unfortunately we won’t have the signs in time for RAGBRAI. That’s kind of the risk we took but sometimes that just happens, we couldn’t get the signs in time. We want to do them right and don’t want to hurry them and get them on because we have to build certain kinds of frames to mount on those poles correctly and can withstand the wind. We’re hoping within two to three weeks after RAGBRAI that we’ll have all of those signs up. They’ll be very noticeable and very beautiful signs.”

Preliminary plans of the look of the wayfinding signs
Preliminary plans of the look of the wayfinding signs

Palmer points out that all of the language, specific text and look of the signs have been determined, but the delay is from Prison Industries where the City has all of their signs made. He describes what funding stream the City is using to pay for the project.

“This is one of those projects that’s paid entirely by hotel/motel tax. So there’s no burden on the local taxpayers at all.”

Palmer appreciates the hard work that the city crews did to install the massive stands and the poles for the signs to sit on.