Appellant submitted a letter of appeal on September 17, 2002, of a decision of the Board of Control made on September 4, 2002. The letter sent by Appellant was not notarized and was postmarked September 17,2002. This is beyond the 10-day appeal deadline date of September 14, 2002.

The lack of an affidavit was not why this appeal was dismissed. The appeal was dismissed because the postmark was beyond the ten-day deadline established by Rule 281--36.17. Appeal deadlines are mandatory and jurisdictional. Filing an appeal in a timely manner is a jurisdictional requirement that cannot be waived by this agency.

That the notice of appeal filed herein be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction