Opinion ID: 6326872
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: The Elkhorn Valley Sportsman Club applied for a conditional use permit to operate a trap and skeet shooting range. A public hearing was held, after which the Board granted the application on September 15, 2020. The Kowalewskis appealed that decision to the district court on October 14, 2020. With that notice of appeal, the Kowalewskis also deposited with the county clerk for Madison County a $100 check as a cash bond for costs, as well as a check for $82 payable to the Madison County District Court intended to cover the filing fee. In fact, the filing fee to perfect an appeal from the Board to the district court was, at that time, $83. Day 30, for purposes of filing an appeal, was October 15, 2020. According to the facts as found by the district court, on October 16 (or day 31), an additional $1 was paid to the clerk of the district court. The record does not reveal any request or attempt by the Kowalewskis asking the county clerk to apply the money from the bond to the filing fee. On December 2, 2020, the Kowalewskis filed a petition detailing their allegations that the Board erred in granting the conditional use permit. The next day, December 3, the Board filed a motion to dismiss on the basis that the docket fee had not been timely paid. On December 4, the Elkhorn - 814 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 310 Nebraska Reports KOWALEWSKI v. MADISON CTY. BD. OF COMRS. Cite as 310 Neb. 812 Valley Sportsman Club filed its own motion to dismiss on the same grounds. The district court held a hearing on the motions to dismiss. During that hearing, the court was asked to take, and took, judicial notice of its own file, “particularly those notations from the clerk concerning the filing fee and the notice filed by counsel.” Following the hearing, the district court dismissed the appeal for failure to pay the required docket fee. This appeal followed. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR The Kowalewskis assign that the district court erred in (1) sustaining the motions to dismiss, (2) dismissing the appeal, and (3) considering Elkhorn Valley Sportsman Club’s motion to dismiss.