A couple who was denied permission to rebuild their home on Lake Quitman has filed suit against Wood County.

Bruce and Linda Noblett of Rowlett attended several county commissioners meetings after they halted work on their property.

At issue was whether the land for the footprint of the original home could be raised to bring it above the lake’s high-water mark.

Commissioners unanimously declined that request for a variance on March 18, after the project had initially been given a verbal OK from former Prec. 1 Commissioner Virgil Holland the previous summer.

Linda’s parents first purchased the property in 1986, which already had structures constructed.

As the Nobletts outlined at commissioners meetings, those structures had flooded on several occasions.

The suit seeks four remedies: to quiet the title to the propriety so that it can be built upon; a declaratory judgment that the county has no legal authority to claim ownership of the land below the high-water line and to promulgate regulations; inverse condemnation, that the county has taken or damaged the property without formal condemnation proceedings; and violation of public use, failing to meet constitutionally mandated procedures.

The suit seeks the quiet title, rightful ownership, to declare the county has no lawful interest, and damages and attorney’s fees and court costs.