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Board approves RAGBRAI 2026 special-event permit after homeowner protest
Summary
Story County supervisors approved the SE20 RAGBRAI 2026 special-event permit conditioned on required liability insurance, following a heated public comment from a homeowner who said planning and zoning's permit requirements were unreasonable for residential homeowners.
The Story County Board of Supervisors voted May 19 to approve the RAGBRAI 2026 special‑event permit (SE20), after staff presented the standard permit conditions and a homeowner raised strong objections.
Marcus (county staff) summarized the permit route and noted staff recommended the board require event liability insurance prior to the event — a standard condition for special‑event permits. Molly Borosman, a homeowner on the proposed route, challenged the county’s approach during a roughly two‑minute public comment and listed a set of required materials she said the county was demanding of homeowners (environmental health plan, site plan, fire prevention and emergency plan, severe weather plan, event liability insurance, amplified‑sound plan, state electrical permit). She said the process was “absolutely insane,” accused planning and zoning of “weaponizing” residents and said she had retained legal counsel.
Board members clarified that the specific agenda item before the board was the RAGBRAI permit, not a new blanket requirement for every residential homeowner, and noted the special‑use permit language dates to a 2017 ordinance. After brief discussion, the board moved, seconded and approved the RAGBRAI 2026 special event permit.
What happens next: Staff will confirm receipt of required insurance and other standard permit conditions before the event. The board did not amend the permit language at the meeting.
