Cedar Creek, Nebraska Public Records

The Cass County County Court, phone (402) 296-9333, has jurisdiction over misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil cases under $60,000, small claims disputes up to $3,900, evictions, protective orders, and juvenile matters. Cedar Creek does not have a separate municipal court; all violations of village ordinances and state law are processed through the Cass County court system. Nebraska offers online access to court records through the Nebraska Judicial Branch's public case search portal at https://www.nebraska.gov/justice/case.cgi, which provides statewide searchable access to both District Court and County Court case information including party names, case numbers, filing dates, charges or claims, dispositions, and judgments. Most case documents can be viewed online free of charge, though some confidential case types (such as juvenile matters) are restricted. Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the Clerk of the District Court at the Plattsmouth courthouse; fees are $1.50 per page for copies plus $1.00 for certification. Requesters should provide case number, party names, and specific documents needed. The court also charges filing fees for various actions: civil complaints typically require $158 filing fee in County Court and $248 in District Court, while small claims filings cost $45.

The Assessor's website at https://www.cassne.org/assessor provides free online access to property records through a searchable database where users can search by owner name, parcel number, or property address to view current assessed valuations, property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size), ownership history, tax district information, and sales history. The Assessor's GIS mapping system is available at https://gis.cassne.org, offering interactive parcel maps, aerial photography, and property boundary information for all parcels in Cedar Creek. For official recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting title to real property, the Cass County Register of Deeds office maintains the permanent records. The Register of Deeds is located at 346 Main Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048, phone (402) 296-9318, website https://www.cassne.org/register-of-deeds. The Register of Deeds provides online document search and image viewing at https://www.cassne.org/register-of-deeds, where users can search by grantor/grantee name, document type, book and page, or date range to view recorded instruments dating back to the county's earliest records. Most recent documents are available as digital images viewable and printable at no charge. Certified copies of recorded documents can be requested in person or by mail for $1.50 per page plus $1.00 certification fee. Recording fees for new documents are $10.00 for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page.

Major employers in the immediate Cedar Creek area are limited due to the village's population of approximately 355; most residents commute to jobs in larger nearby communities including Plattsmouth, Gretna, Bellevue, and Omaha. The Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools, which serve Cedar Creek students, represent a significant employer in the broader area. Agriculture-related businesses, including grain elevators, equipment dealers, and farm service providers in nearby Ashland and Plattsmouth, employ some Cedar Creek residents. The median household income in Cedar Creek is estimated at approximately $65,000-$75,000 based on recent census data, slightly above the rural Nebraska average but below the Omaha metro median. Recent economic development in the broader region has been driven by suburban expansion southward from Omaha along the Highway 75 corridor, with Plattsmouth and Gretna experiencing residential and commercial growth that indirectly benefits Cedar Creek through increased regional employment opportunities. Cedar Creek maintains its quiet, rural residential character while benefiting economically from proximity to the diverse employment base of the Omaha metropolitan statistical area, which includes major employers in healthcare, finance, insurance, transportation, telecommunications, and the military (Offutt Air Force Base). The village's location along Highway 77 provides convenient access to these regional employment centers while preserving a peaceful small-town environment valued by residents seeking affordable rural living within reach of urban amenities.

The Village of Cedar Creek does not maintain its own police department. Primary law enforcement services for Cedar Creek and the surrounding unincorporated areas are provided by the Cass County Sheriff's Office, located at 346 Main Street in Plattsmouth, NE 68048. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (402) 296-9300, and its website is https://www.cassne.org/sheriff. The Cass County Sheriff's Office handles all patrol, investigation, and emergency response for Cedar Creek residents, and maintains records of incidents, accidents, arrests, and calls for service within the village limits and surrounding rural areas. Residents seeking copies of police reports, accident reports, or incident records should contact the Sheriff's Office directly, either in person at the Plattsmouth office or by submitting a written request. Nebraska public records law, specifically the Nebraska Public Records Statutes (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 84-712 to 84-712.09), governs access to law enforcement records, allowing public access to most police reports and incident logs while protecting certain investigative materials and confidential victim information. Arrest records and jail bookings for Cass County are maintained by the Sheriff's Office, which operates the Cass County Jail at the same Plattsmouth address. Current inmate information, including booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and booking photos, can be searched online through the Cass County Sheriff's Office inmate roster at https://www.cassne.org/sheriff or via third-party jail roster sites. Requests for older arrest records, criminal history summaries, or detailed booking reports should be directed to the Sheriff's Office Records Division at (402) 296-9300. Processing times for records requests vary but typically range from several days to two weeks depending on the complexity and volume of the request.

Applications can be submitted online through VitalChek at https://www.vitalchek.com (with additional processing fees), by mail with completed application form and payment, or in person at the Lincoln office. Processing time is approximately 4-6 weeks for mail requests and immediate for walk-in service. Online orders through VitalChek are typically processed within 5-10 business days. Birth records less than 50 years old and death records less than 20 years old are restricted to eligible applicants (family members, legal representatives) who must provide proof of relationship and valid photo ID. Marriage licenses for Cedar Creek residents are issued by the Cass County Clerk, located at 346 Main Street, Suite 200, Plattsmouth, NE 68048, phone (402) 296-9301, website https://www.cassne.org/clerk. The marriage license fee is $25 and there is no waiting period; the license is valid for one year from issuance. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $10. Divorce records are maintained as court records through the Cass County District Court and can be accessed through the court case search system or by requesting certified copies from the Clerk of District Court at (402) 296-9327. Historical vital records dating to Nebraska's statehood are available through the Vital Records Office, with digitization efforts ongoing for older records.

Cass County does not require a general county business license, though specific activities such as liquor sales, special events, and certain construction activities may require county permits available through the Cass County Clerk at 346 Main Street, Suite 200, Plattsmouth, NE 68048, phone (402) 296-9301. Fictitious business name filings (trade names/DBAs) for businesses operating under a name other than the owner's legal name are filed with the Cass County Clerk; the fee is $108 for the initial filing and $102 for renewals, with publication in a local newspaper required. All Nebraska corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other formal business entities must register with the Nebraska Secretary of State. The Secretary of State's Business Services Division provides free online business entity search at https://www.sos.ne.gov/business/corp_search, where users can search by business name, registered agent, or filing number to view corporate status, registration date, registered agent information, principal office address, and officers or members. New business entity filings can be submitted online through the same portal. UCC financing statement searches (lien searches for secured transactions) are also maintained by the Nebraska Secretary of State and searchable at https://www.sos.ne.gov/business/ucc_search. Business personal property is assessed by the Cass County Assessor; business owners must file annual personal property returns listing equipment, inventory, and fixtures. Commercial real estate assessments can be searched through the Cass County Assessor's online database at https://www.cassne.org/assessor to determine property tax obligations.

Cedar Creek voters are served by the Cass County Election Commissioner, located at 346 Main Street, Suite 200, Plattsmouth, NE 68048, phone (402) 296-9312, website https://www.cassne.org/election. This office administers all federal, state, county, and municipal elections for Cedar Creek residents, maintains voter registration records, processes candidate filings, manages polling places, counts ballots, and certifies election results. Nebraska voters can register online at https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration, by mail using a downloadable registration form, or in person at the County Election Commissioner's office or any Nebraska DMV office. The voter registration deadline is 6:00 p.m. on the third Friday before any election (approximately 18 days before Election Day); online registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on that same deadline. Nebraska does not require identification to register to vote, but first-time voters who registered by mail may need to provide ID when voting for the first time. The Village of Cedar Creek holds municipal elections for village board trustees and other village offices; these elections typically occur in the spring (usually April or May) of odd-numbered years. The next Cedar Creek municipal election is scheduled for 2025. Information about local candidates, ballot measures, and village election results can be obtained from the Village Clerk at (402) 234-2951 or from the Cass County Election Commissioner. Cedar Creek residents can find their assigned polling place by using the polling place lookup tool at https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/VoterView or by contacting the Election Commissioner's office with their residential address. Nebraska makes extensive election records available to the public under state law. Voter registration lists are public records available for purchase from county election offices for political purposes. Campaign finance reports for state and local candidates are accessible through the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission at https://nadc.nebraska.gov. Candidate filing information and precinct-level election results are public and posted by the Election Commissioner after each election. In the November 2024 general election, Cass County reported approximately 65% voter turnout, with over 15,000 ballots cast from approximately 23,000 registered voters; Cedar Creek's precinct showed similarly strong participation reflecting high civic engagement. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature several significant races for Cedar Creek voters. Nebraska's U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Deb Fischer is not up for election in 2026 (next election 2028), but the state will elect statewide offices including Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, and Auditor. Cedar Creek is located in Nebraska Legislative District 2, which will elect a state senator (Nebraska Legislature is officially nonpartisan and unicameral). Cass County voters will also decide races for County Commissioner, County Attorney, County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Sheriff, Assessor, and other county offices. Nebraska offers early voting and mail-in voting options. Any registered voter may request an early voting ballot without providing a reason; applications are available at https://www.cassne.org/election or by calling (402) 296-9312. Early voting ballots can be requested beginning approximately 60 days before an election and must be returned by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day either by mail (postmarked by Election Day) or in person at the Election Commissioner's office or designated drop boxes.