Dave Williams said he was a bit surprised when he got his tax bill this week.

Williams has been in a dispute with Fayette County since this past spring, each claiming ownership of seven tenths of an acre near the corner of Ga. Highway 92 north and Lee's Mill Road.

The county wants to use the land to build a new water tank, and started condemnation proceedings before discovering a century-old deed that lists the property as already belonging to the county. Williams filed suit to invalidate the deed, but lost.

The case is under appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court, but Williams said he still was surprised that he was billed for the taxes on the land when the county is claiming ownership.

Tax Commissioner George Wingo said when property changes hands, the tax bill usually goes to the owner of record as of Jan. 1 that year. "When everything shakes out and it's settled, the tax assessors will probably take that property off the tax rolls," he said.

"It's just incredible to me," said Williams. "It looks like the one hand doesn't know what the other is doing at the county."