In the interpretation and construction of this code, the following definitions and rules of construction shall be observed, unless they are inconsistent with the manifest intent of the council or the context clearly requires otherwise:
CITY: The city of Carbondale in Jackson County, state of Illinois, except as otherwise provided.
COMPUTATION OF TIME: The time within which any act provided by law is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is Sunday or a legal holiday, and then it shall also be excluded. If the day succeeding such Sunday or holiday is also a holiday or a Sunday, then such succeeding day shall also be excluded.
COUNCIL OR THE COUNCIL: The city council of the city of Carbondale, Illinois.
COUNTY OR THE COUNTY: The words "county" or "the county" have reference to Jackson County, Illinois.
COURT: Includes all courts of record.
DIVISIONS OF CODE: Words designating paragraphs, sections, articles or similar parts of writing may be used interchangeably as the context may require.
GENDER: Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter.
IN THE CITY OR WITHIN THE CITY: Means and includes all territory over which the city now has or shall hereafter acquire jurisdiction for any lawful purpose.
JOINT AUTHORITY: Words purporting to give joint authority to three (3) or more public officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or persons.
MONTH: A calendar month.
MUNICIPALITY: The city of Carbondale, Illinois.
NUMBER: Words importing the singular number may extend and be applied to several persons or things and words importing the plural may include the singular.
OATH: Shall be deemed to include an affirmation and the word "sworn" shall be construed to include the word "affirmed".
OCCUPANT OR TENANT: The word "occupant" or "tenant", applied to a building or land, means any person who holds a written or oral lease of or actually occupies the whole or part of such building or land, either alone or with others.
OR, AND: "Or" may be read "and", and "and" may be read "or", if the sense requires it.
OWNER: Applied to a building or land shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership or joint tenant of the whole or part of such building or land.
PERSON: Any individual, partnership, corporation, joint stock association or any city or state, or any subdivision thereof, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.
PERSONAL PROPERTY: Includes every species of property, except "real property", as defined by this section.
PRECEDING, FOLLOWING: Next before and next after, respectfully.
PROPERTY: Includes real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY: Includes real and personal property.
SIDEWALK: That portion of a street between the curb lines or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property lines, intended for the use of pedestrians.
STATE OR THE STATE: The state of Illinois.
STREET: The entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right for purposes of vehicular traffic.
TENSE: Words in the present tense include the future.
TIME: Central Standard Time shall be the official time of the city, except between four o'clock (4:00) A.M. standard time on the last Sunday in April and four o'clock (4:00) A.M. daylight saving time on the last Sunday in September, during which excepted period Central Daylight Saving Time shall be the official time of the city.
WRITTEN, IN WRITING: May include printing and any other mode or representing words and letters, but when the written signature of any person is required by law to any official or public writing or bond required by law, it shall be in the proper handwriting of such person, or in case he is unable to write, by his proper mark.
YEAR: A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. (1956 Code § 1-1-2)