He should have called a public meeting and at the very least told fellow commissioners of his action, Pool now says publicly. Commissioners killed Pool's action in a quick 4-1 vote Tuesday. Only Pool voted for the fund request.

His instructions to Arlington, VA-based Alcalde & Fay, a national government and public affairs firm, to lobby the Congress for a $5 million grant to study the proposed Lake-Sumter Greenway concept has created a controversy in two counties where the entire permanent population is less than 250,000. Alcalde & Fay is being paid $5,000 a month on a 12-month contract.

U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Florida) immediately withdrew his request to the Appropriations Committee in Washington to consider Pool's proposal. The Appropriations Committee's deadline is March 29.