(A) Rules of interpretation. This code shall be construed by the following rules unless the construction is plainly repugnant to the legislative intent or context of the provision.
(1) Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, ordinary, and usual sense. Technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(2) Words imputing joint authority to three or more persons shall be construed as imputing authority to a majority of the persons, unless otherwise declared in the section giving the authority.
(3) Where a section requires an act to be done which, by law, an agent or deputy may perform, in addition to the principal, the performance of the act by an authorized deputy or agent is valid.
(4) Words denoting the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine and neuter genders; words in the singular shall include the plural, and words in the plural shall include the singular; the use of a verb in the present tense shall include the future, if applicable.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this code of ordinances, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. The county’s Board of Commissioners.
COUNTY. Floyd County, Indiana.
COUNTY COUNCIL. The financial body.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE. The Board of Commissioners of Floyd County.
DESIGNEE. Following an official of the county, the authorized agent employee or representative of the official.
ET SEQ. The Latin phrase meaning AND THE FOLLOWING.
HIGHWAY. Includes bridges, roads, and streets, unless otherwise expressly provided.
I.A.C. Rules and regulations found in the Indiana Administration Code.
I.C. State law found in the Indiana Code.
MONTH. One calendar month.
NUMBER. A word importing the singular number only; may, where the context requires, extend and be applied to several persons or things as well as to one person or thing; a word importing the plural number only, may, where the context requires, extend and be applied to one person or thing, as well as to several persons or things.
ORDINANCES and RESOLUTIONS. The ordinances and resolutions of the county and all amendments including this code and its supplements.
OWNER. As applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant, by the entirety of the whole, or a part of, the building or land.
PERSON. Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee, receiver, and bodies politic. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty, the terms PERSON or WHOEVER as applied to any unincorporated entity shall mean the partners or members thereof, and as applied to corporations, and the officers or agents thereof.
PLAN COMMISSION. The Commission established to carry out the duties of I.C. 36-7-4-401 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time.
PRECEDING and FOLLOWING. When referring to sections or divisions in this code, refer to the sections or divisions next following or next preceding that in which the words occur, unless some other section is designated.
PRIVATE PROPERTY. Property not owned by a public entity.
PUBLIC PLACE. Any public street, road, highway, alley, lane, sidewalk, crosswalk, or other public way, or any public property, or any shopping center whose owners have entered into a contract with the county pursuant to I.C. 36-7.
QUORUM. A majority of the members of a board, commission, committee, or County Council holding office, unless otherwise specifically provided in this code.
REAL PROPERTY. Land, tenements, and hereditaments.
REGISTERED MAIL. Certified mail with return receipt requested.
SIDEWALK. Any portion of a street between the curb line and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians.
STATE. The state of Indiana.
STATE LAW REFERENCES. The Indiana Code (I.C.) and any subsequent amendments.
STREET. All roads, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, squares, boulevards, viaducts, or other public ways in the county which have been, or may hereafter be, dedicated and open to public use for vehicular traffic.
SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY INTEREST. Any right in real property that may be affected in a substantial way by actions authorized by planning and development laws of the state, including a fee interest, a life estate, a future interest, a present possessory interest, or an equitable interest of a contract purchaser.
TENANT and OCCUPANT. Applied to a building or land, includes any person holding a written or oral lease of, or who occupies the whole or a part of, the building or land, either alone or with others.
TIME. Includes words used in the past or present tense, and includes the future, as well as the past and present.
TOWNSHIP. The township or townships within the county.
WILL. A mandatory direction.
WORDS AND PHRASES. According to the common and approved usage of the language, but technical words and phrases, and others that have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in the law, shall be construed and understood according to the meaning.
WRITTEN and IN WRITING.
(a) Printing, lithographing, or other modes of representing words and letters.
(b) Where the written signature of a person is required, the terms mean the proper handwriting of the person or the person’s mark.
YEAR. One calendar year, unless otherwise expressly provided.
(I.C. 1-1-4-5)