When the City Council of Webster City meets at City Hall tonight at 6 p.m., one item on the agenda will be whether or not the city should close streets in support of the Tour de Webster Bicycle Race/Ride.

The race was a popular late summer event in Webster City from its founding, in 1989, through 2019. Along with many other group activities, the Tour de Webster was cancelled during the Covid pandemic.

The race has been re-imagined by Webster City Parks & Recreation, Hamilton County Conservation, and the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce.

The race is anticipated to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 27.

Riders may choose from two routes: a “scenic route” traveling city streets and the Boone River Trail to Briggs Woods Park and back, or a “road race route” of 29.5 miles via city streets and county roads to Woolstock and return.

Both end at Seneca Street Saloon where the annual Oktoberfest celebration will be in full swing. Special food and beer menus are planned, and Webster City’s own Actung! Polka Band will provide German-style Oktoberfest music.

The Chamber and local businesses hope promoting the race through Travel Iowa, the state’s official tourism organization, will bring out-of-town visitors to the event.

In other business this evening, the Council is expected to approve issuance of up to $3 million in municipal bonds, principally to repave streets in Webster City. Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Des Moines, is advising the city in creation of a “Preliminary Official Statement” which, in essence, readies the bonds for sale. As previously, Public Finance Management Company’s Des Moines office will receive bids on the bonds through 10 a.m. August 18, 2025. Bids will be opened that day, and the Council will then decide whether to accept the bid at its 6 p.m. meeting the same evening.