The following rules or meanings shall be applied in the construction and interpretation of ordinances codified in this Code of Ordinances unless such application would be clearly inconsistent with the plain meaning or intent of the ordinances:
(a) Acts by Agents. When an ordinance requires an act be done by a person which may be legally performed by an authorized agent of that principal person, the requirement shall be construed to include all acts performed by such agents.
(b) Code and Code of Ordinances. The words, "Codes," "Code of Ordinances" and "Municipal Code" when used in any section of this Code shall refer to this Code of Ordinances of the Village of Edgar unless the context of the section clearly indicates otherwise.
(c) Computation of Time. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these Ordinances, the day of the act or event from which the period of time begins to run shall not be included, but the last day of the period shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday. If the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than seven (7) days, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays shall be excluded in the computation. As used in this Section, "legal holiday" means any statewide legal holiday specified by state law.
(d) Fine. The term "fine" shall be the equivalent of the word "forfeiture," and vice versa.
(e) Gender. Use has been made of masculine pronouns in these Ordinances solely for the sake of brevity. Unless specifically stated to the contrary, this Code of Ordinances is gender neutral and words in these Ordinances referring to the masculine gender shall also be construed to apply to females, and vice versa.
(f) General Rule. All words, phrases and ordinances shall be construed according to their plain meaning in common usage and shall be liberally construed in favor of the Municipality. However, words or phrases with a technical or special meaning shall be understood and construed according to that technical or special meaning if such is the intent of the Ordinances. Unless specifically defined below, words and phrases used in this Code of Ordinances shall have the same meaning as they have at common law and to give this Code of Ordinances its most reasonable application. Words used in the present tense include the future, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular. The word "may" is permissive; "shall" is mandatory and not discretionary.
(g) Joint Authority.
All words purporting to give a joint authority to three (3) or more Village officers or employees shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons.
(h) Officers. The term "officers" shall refer solely to local offices created by state statute.
(i) Officials. The term "officials" shall mean all Village of Edgar officers and employees.
(j) Person. The word "person" shall mean any of the following entities: natural persons, corporations, partnerships, associations, limited liability companies, firms, bodies politic, joint venture, joint stock company, association, public or private corporation, the United States, the State of Wisconsin, including any unit or division thereof, any county, city, village, town, municipal utility, municipal power district or other governmental unit, coooperative, estate, trust, receiveer, executor, administrator, any other fiduciary, any representative appointed by order of any court or otherwise acting on behalf of others, or any other entity of any kind which is capable of being sued (includes singular as well as plural).
(k) Repeal. When any ordinance having the effect of repealing a prior ordinance is itself repealed, such repeal shall not be construed to revive the prior ordinance or any part thereof, unless expressly so provided.
(I) Singular and Plural. Every word in these Ordinances referring to the singular number only shall also be construed to apply to several persons or things, and every word in these Ordinances referring to a plural number shall also be construed to apply to one (1) person or thing.
(m) Tense. The use of any verb in the present tense shall not preclude the interpretation of the verb in the future tense where appropriate.
(n) Wisconsin Statutes. The term "Wisconsin Statutes" and its abbreviation as "Wis. Stats." shall mean, in these Ordinances, the Wisconsin Statutes for the year 2019-2020, as amended from time to time.
(o) Wisconsin Administrative Code. The term "Wisconsin Administrative Code" and its abbreviation as "Wis. Adm. Code" shall mean the Wisconsin Administrative Code as of the adoption of this Code of Ordinances, as amended or renumbered from time to time.
(p) Village. The term "Village" shall mean the Village of Edgar, Marathon County, Wisconsin.