When the State Tourism committee submitted the First Impressions findings to the group of volunteers organized by the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce, their recommendations seemed do-able.

One of the issues the report cited was the need to get drivers off Highway 20 into the community of Webster City, the second was to improve the on-line information and then finally to improve signage from the Briggs Woods trail and all throughout Webster City.

There were so many things that they noted Webster City does well, but the group that has gathered to address the next steps, have been adamant they not just let the recommendations sit on a shelf. They want to take the report and fix those areas that are lacking.

But the committee meeting Thursday proved some things are beyond what a handful of volunteers can do.

Brian Lammers, Hamilton County Conservation director researched signage along Highway 20, bringing the detailed information about what could be done to get some directional signage along this critical road.

Their guidelines, once again, proved impossible to capitalize upon. Between money and very restrictive DOT requirements, it appears this path was a dead end.

So the committee moved into brainstorming mode.

From painting on the city water tower, placing gigantic doodlebugs on the roof of a building, to exploring farms that might allow signage or a structure, the committee took the bad news and talked through other options.

One major question arose: what makes a driver take an exit, and then spend time in the community.

It’s a good question, and one the entire community can help answer.

In the next weeks and in the month ahead, they will be seeking answers.

In the meantime, several positive steps are moving forward.

There was agreement that some of these issues need the involvement of the city staff, the city council and the rest of the community. To drive travelers into the town will need some creativity and cooperation. Some of this might need permission from the city.

The need for accurate information online is still a top concern. Business owners and other organizations need to get online, check their brochures, even their doors and make sure their hours, their addresses, their maps and their phone numbers are all correct.

Updating information for some may take some assistance and training. The Chamber of Commerce and the Kendall Young Library will be scheduling a workshop soon to assist business owners in updating Google business information online, track down wrong information and teach them how to keep their information up-to-date.

The chamber of commerce’s Locable connection, will help keep Webster City information in front of tourists and travelers, but organizations and businesses have to get it set up and corrected.

Improving the connections to Webster City with Briggs Woods was noted throughout the initial report. Lammers has been working with several groups to help get this addressed.

“We are working with a group that is creating a map/brochure that will also have a web presence,” said Lammers, “You will have both a physical and an electronic guide to help locate places, including city parks, county parks, and the county trails.”

Within the parks themselves, they will be updating signage also.

“We applied and have received grants to get trail signage in the timber along the soft hiking trails, (those which are not paved).” said Lammers, “This was just announced through the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation.”

Lammers explained that much of what he has been working on is multi-layered, working with the Chamber of Commerce, and Cindy Im with the Hamilton County Economic Development group. He said that Im had helped identify some funding sources also through a state project.

“We talked with the Iowa tourism office today,” said Amelia Oliver of the Chamber office, “There seems to be a consensus that we are 80% of the way to being a notable trail system.”

Jamie Griffith, Executive Director of the Chamber agreed, “Improvements were needed on our wayfinding signs, marketing and connection points with the trails.”

“If you look within the full report of the First Impressions report, much of the “low hanging fruit”, projects that are easy to get off your list, are underway,” said Lammers.

“We just applied for grants through the Hamilton County tourism grant- county hotel-motel tax dollars that will work with Bolton and Mink to engineer and design new park signs within Briggs Woods park,” he continued, “It’s an entire sign makeover. It will show how to get to camp sites and how to get to the water falls, for example.”

With the weather easing into spring-time temperatures, the critical deskwork has been done during the winter for the parks and outdoor recreation areas. Having this much work in process is important, as the weather warms and tourism travel is just around the corner. But the committee will be meeting again in early April to see how much more they can accomplish.

Travel season is upon us, explained Lammers, “We hope to have the golf course open by the end of March, and the campgrounds by the first weekend of May.”

It all depends on the weather.

For the First Impressions team, it’s looking pretty sunny ahead.