(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.
CITY. The City of Jasonville, Indiana, or the area within the territorial limits of the outside of the city over which the city has jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or statutory provision.
CLERK-TREASURER. The Clerk-Treasurer of the Common Council.
COUNCIL. The Common Council of the City of Jasonville, Indiana.
COUNTY. The county of Greene, Indiana.
HIGHWAY. Includes bridges, roads, and streets, unless otherwise expressly provided.
LAW. Denotes applicable federal law, the constitution and the statutes of the state, the ordinances of the city, and, when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations which may be promulgated thereunder.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. A calendar month.
MUST and SHALL. The acts referred to are mandatory.
OATH. Includes an affirmation or declaration in all cases in which, by law, an AFFIRMATION may be substituted for an OATH, and in such cases the words SWEAR and SWORN shall be equivalent to the words AFFIRM and AFFIRMED.
OWNER. Applied to a building or land, includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant, tenant by the entirety, of the whole or a part of such building or land.
PERSON. Includes a natural person, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, association, club, company, corporation, business, trust, organization, or the manger, lessee, agent, servant, officer, or employee of any of them.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Includes money, goods, chattels, things in action, and evidences of debt.
PRECEDING and FOLLOWING. Next before and next after, respectively.
PROPERTY. Includes real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY. Includes real property.
SIDEWALK. The portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property lines intended for the use of pedestrians.
STATE. The State of Indiana.
STREET. Includes all streets, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs, or other public ways in the city which may have been or may hereafter be dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of this state.
TENANT and OCCUPANT. Applied to a building or land, include any person who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.
WRITTEN. Includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed, multigraphed, or otherwise reproduced in permanent visible form.
YEAR. A calendar year.
(I.C. 1-1-4-5) (2003 Code, § 1.04.010)