Sheridan resident upset about home sold for taxes
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A Sheridan resident is upset that his home has been sold for back taxes, saying he didn't know anything was owed on the property.
During the Chautauqua County Legislature's Administrative Services Committee meeting, Eric Meka, who lives at 10532 Newell Road spoke at the meeting.
Meka said while Newell Road is his primary residence, he has been spending time at his late parents' home, cleaning it out after they passed away.
On Sunday, Aug. 2 he came to his Newell Road property and found a tax auction sign laying face down on the ground. He thought the sign was put there as a joke by one of his co-workers.
On Monday Meka said he called the number on the sign and was informed that his house was, in fact, sold at an auction.
"The county Tax Department said that my house had been sold for $9,000 in taxes," he said, as his voice began to tremble. "I said there's no way that's possible. My home is worth much, much more than that. They said the county took ownership of it, that it was sold and there's nothing you can do about it."
According to the county GIS site, the full market value of the property is $116,750.
He was referred to an attorney for the county, who Meka says, has yet to call him back.
Meka said he called the county Tax Department again and they told him he needed to vacate the property by Aug. 22.
Meka alleges he never received any notices that he owed taxes. "The Tax Department told me there was a return receipt letter that was sent and that was the only requirement, and it had not been returned," he said.
After that, Meka called the Sheriff's Office. No one got back to him, so he went there the next day and stayed there for three hours until he could submit a statement.
Meka said he began contacting area attorneys. He said he couldn't find someone in the county to represent him, but was able to obtain one from Buffalo who filed an appeal on his behalf.
Meka said even though he had been living with his parents from around 2020 until they passed away in 2022, he said he kept Newell Road as his legal address, including what his driver's license lists and where he gets his mail. "I intend to go back there at some point," he said.
Meka said he had no idea that he owed taxes on the property. "My taxes have always been paid. I pay bills as they come. ... I never noticed this bill wasn't coming," he said.
He added that he has a history of always paying his taxes on time.
Meka said there are some things regarding the value of the home that he didn't want to discuss in an open meeting but said he would be willing to meet privately with any of the committee members to answer any questions.
Legislator Travis Heiser, R-Clymer, who was chairing the committee that night, said there is nothing the Administrative Services Committee can do, but thanked him for speaking at the meeting.
The committee did not meet with him in executive session.