Harris County sues couple accusing them of denying access to their property

CYPRESS, Texas (FOX 26) - "It's been very difficult financially, emotionally, it's very stressful for our family," said Maria Rademacher.

After years of fighting with Harris County, push came to shove for Steve and Maria Rademacher.

"In 2010, Harris County came in without us being aware of it and started digging a ditch on our property," Rademacher said.

This is what the couple says their property looked like before the county came calling. They live next door to a horse farm that's three feet higher than their property. The Rademacher's say the county's drainage ditch does nothing for the neighborhood, it just sends the horse farms runoff into their property.

"They want to use our property to drain the horse paddocks," said Steve Rademacher.

The county sued the couple after they put up a sign on their property which in part states, "IN PROTEST! ACCESS TO THIS PRIVATE PROPERTY DENIED TO HARRIS COUNTY".

"It was very difficult for my husband and I to come to this decision because either we could just walk away and just give up, but you know what, that's why this stuff continues in Harris County because people give up," Rademacher said.

"We're not saying you can't come on our property, but just do it the right way. Don't use our property for the adjacent property next door to drain their paddock," said Steve Rademacher.

The Rademachers say the county refuses to let them see the plans for the drainage easement even though it's on their property.

"It's on principal and justice," Rademacher said.

The county says the lawsuit was necessary so that Harris County can gain entrance to its own right of way to complete drainage improvements that will alleviate flooding in the neighborhood.

The work the county says is being performed in accordance with an analysis of drainage needs in the area.