Tuesday night's Council meeting was the swan song for controversial members Brett Blackburn and Lana Kennedy. While Blackburn offered no goodbyes to his colleagues, Kennedy said she and her husband are putting their Potwin home on the market, and moving away from Topeka at the end of April. Kennedy called the council job "tough," but "fun and educational" and helped her make lifelong friends.

Kennedy told her colleagues in her final session with them, that she had come on to the Council wearing "rose colored glasses," but "failed in her accomplishments of trying to make changes for Topeka." She wished her successor well, and asked if (as with the basketball teams the council honored Tuesday night..) whether the Council also needed a good coach who could coach them through the tough times ahead.

Kennedy's seat in District One will be filled by Karen Hiller or Shawn Leisinger at the next council meeting April 14th. Kennedy and Blackburn both declined to run for new terms in next week's elections.