Good evening and welcome to another edtion of the "Your Turn" live blog from the Ames City Council.  On first glance, a pair of issues of note on the agenda this evening.

Two of the council's advisory boards--the Public Library Board of Trustees and Historic Preservation Commission are at-odds on the ongoing renovation and expansion of the library building.  The library board wants to do what it can to preserve the historic nature of the building, but also sees the need to make it as user-friendly and energy efficent as possible.  The commission wants the intact preservation of the building conforming to some stringent guidelines.

The council will also hear from staff on drought mitigation and water rationing ordinances.  These are only used in time of drought, and need to be changed to reflect the city's current water rate structure.

7:38PM:  We've hit our first "severe tire damage" spikes in the road.  The council is jammed up on issues surrounding garages shared by two properties that straddle lot lines.  Yes, this happens.

7:46PM:  And...the issue goes circular.

8:00PM:  On the library issue now.

8:08PM:  Assistant City Manager Bob Kindred tells the council that a state historical board says not retaining the library building's windows could jeopardize a possible inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places

8:19PM:  Library Board of Trustees presisdent Kevin Stow says while the library project will attempt to preserve the historic feel of the building, it was never intended to be a restoration project.  He says a change in that director will delay should have been undertaken a long time ago.  He says shifting to restoration will effect a number of contracts, and could effect the project's schedule.

8:40PM:  Library building construction manager Brad Heemstra says they have to have a decision by May 14th on the windows.  Council directs trustees to come back after investigating windows option.

8:50PM:  Council getting an update on city drought mitigation efforts.  Staffer giving report talks about 1976-77 start of pumping water from "what was then called "Hallett's Quarry."  My God, I have been here a long time. 

A quick one-off--more from the Ames City Council meeting tonight...

My fave story OTD:  Klemme state senator Dennis Guth (R-epugnant) says he wants to "do lunch" with Gay-American Sen. Matt McCoy (D-etermined).  Guth's comments come a week after he took to the Senate floor to declare gay people "dangerous" and posed "health risks" to his family. 

I don't know what's prompting Guth to reach out to McCoy, so I'll give him the slightest benefit of the doubt.  That being said, Guth does need to be careful, though. He's not going to want get any of the gay on him.  If he doesn't watch out, he's going to develop a desire to be fastidiously dressed, tidy in the upkeep of his home, and enjoy the music of Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, and Barbra Streisand.  He could find himself deep in a fantasy where he travels to New York City, just to see some shows on Broadway. If it gets really bad, he could suddenly want the right to marry whomever he wants without the goverment telling him no.  There is downside, though--he could also find himself heaped with the fawning praise of the "liberal media." 

Stereotypes are fun, aren't they Sen. Guth?

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

That quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has gotten a lot of play since Monday's Boston Marathon bombing.  I was reminded of it in the endless coverage of the search for the at-large suspect today.

Before we know anything about the suspects' motivation for the bombing, before we even know who they are, lots of people will claim to know the who's, why's and wherefore's. 

We are going to get some pretty dark places in the coming days.  Just like after 9/11, it's going to be very easy to paint an entire group of people with hate simply for the actions of a few.  Think again about Dr. King's quote.  Look for the light.  Avoid the dark. 

So...  This is what politics has come to in the closing days of the 2013 session of the Iowa General Assembly.

First, watch THIS video...

Now, watch THIS video...

Now, try not to punch yourself in the face.  Maybe you'll be more successful that I was.  This is what doubles as politics in 2013.  It would be laughable, if it didn't revolve on something as crucial as paying for our schools and making them better. 

Gov. Branstad's office ought to be ashamed of itself for this embarassing, childish stunt.  Don't miss this--we PAID someone in the Governor's office to produce this video.  Go back and watch it again, and remember that it's your tax dollars at work.

FWIW, I have ZERO hope that there will be any resolution to the education reform OR the funding issue.  Remember this next year when you go to the polls.

In-house Media and Politics expert Jeff Stein joins us a 1:30 this afternoon, and we'll talk about media coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing. He turned me on to this column by Denver Post TV critic Joanne Ostorw.

Best line: "Information moves faster than knowledge."

This.  So much this.

Turns out Ames is getting a Sports Authority and PetCo after all.  Whee.  Yay.  Goodie. This means we can't be far away from getting the coveted (only half-kidding) Olive Garden. 

"After all" you ask?  Yes--after all.  The developer of the chunk of land between Target and Super WalMart told the Ames City Council last month he didn't see how the stores would come here unless they got a tax break on the land.  I thought that was a bit disingenuous, knowing how much market reseach retailers put in to making decisions where they set up shop.  So, turns out, the stores will open here.  Surprise, surprise.

As for the Olive Garden shot, here's what I'm talking about...

In the interest of full disclosure, I've eaten at Olive Garden.  It gives you exactly what you pay for--a serviceable bowl of pasta and the ambieance of eating it right there in Mama's kitchen--if Mama's kitchen is the the World Showcase at Epcot Center.

"Wow!  I almost forgot I was eating in West Des Moines!  I thought I'd been magically transported to Parma!"

You know exactly what you're gonna get at an Olive Garden, Chili's, Appleby's, etc.  But, what about that guy who's trying to serve you a bowl of linguini that was actually made by his mama?

My issue is this, and it's certainly not just mine.  We have locally owned pet stores in Ames.  We have locally owned sporting goods stores here.  How hard will it be for those stores to compete with the buying power of PetCo (1000 stores in 50 states and the District of Columbia) and Sports Authority (450 stores in 45 states)? There's no way the local folks can compete with the price big box stores will get on a bag of Iams large-breed dog food. 

Oh, and while we're disclosing things, let me say that I've also shopped in the big-box stores in Ames.  I've even (gasp) driven to Ankeny and shopped in those stores.  That being said, I try to shop locally whenever I can.  I have close friends who own businesses here and I want them to succeed.  If I can buy from them instead of the big boxes, I'll do it every time.