A bitter dispute continues to have an effect on the Triangle Aquatic Center.

TAC officials say Wake County Commissioner Kenn Gardner sued to try and keep them from opening last year, and now is demanding back pay for his work designing the building.

Gardner was one of the original board members, but left before the pool facility opened.

"We all volunteered our professional time and our personal time without any expectation of compensation," said volunteer TAC President Mike Curran. "We are surprised, to say the least, that he now is asking for $400,000 in compensation."

TAC has now filed a countersuit, saying that if Gardner was being paid, then it was a conflict of interest, because he voted against giving grant money to a competing project by the Town of Cary.

Gardner has acknowledged an interview request, but has not been available for comment yet.