ROSEBUD, Texas — Melissa Surovik-Smith has documents that tie a one-acre lot in Rosebud to the Surovik family since 1982. She told 6 News that it was purchased even earlier than that.
For the last two decades, however, Smith said county data errors have made hanging onto the property a nightmare. So much so, that the family had to call 6 News for help for the second time in 14 years.
Smith said Falls County seized and sold the property in 2002. 6 News Reporter Stacy Weaver did a story in 2006 and found out Falls County actually had two deeds connected to the property.
Weaver's report found out the family had paid taxes for one property, but the other had become delinquent. This prompted the county to take and sell the property.
The report ended with the county judge not being able to give an answer, but in 2007, according to a quitclaim document Smith provided, the property was released back to Michael Surovik from Colby Lance Sedillo who had possession from the property. Michael Surovik is the ex-husband of Smith.
"It was given to Mike Surovik when falls county had to buy the property back that they had auctioned for back taxes," Smith said.
Unfortunately, Smith said Falls County made a mistake again.
Surovik was given a claim to not just the one acre of land but two whole city blocks and a total of 12 lots. At the same time, Smith said, those blocks were obtained by another buyer in the area as well, though their property was not included in his purchase.
As a result, Smith said, There are now three separate deeds for the area.
"Manard Moeller has another deed for 6.95 acres. Mike Surovik has a deed for 7.95 acres, and Gladys Surovik has a deed in the wrong addition for the one-acre that it should be," Smith said.
Smith said she is currently stuck paying taxes on two of the deeds, even though Moeller paid taxes for the same land. Smith said she doesn't want Moeller's land, she simply wants to pay taxes on her family's one acre and nothing else.
When Smith tried to get things sorted out at the Falls County Tax assessor office, Smith said staff told her to pay on both while things get sorted out to avoid the property being accidentally auctioned again.
"I was told by the people that collect taxes that I need to come in and pay on both properties to stop an auction," Smith said.
6 News will be following up with Falls County to find out what's going on.
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