(A) General rule.
(1) Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, or ordinary and usual sense.
(2) However, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION or MUNICIPALITY.
(a) The area within the corporate boundaries of the city as presently established or as amended by ordinance, annexation or other legal actions at a future time.
(b) The term CITY when used in this code may also be used to refer to the City Council and its authorized representatives.
CODE, THIS CODE or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This city code as modified by amendment, revision and adoption of new titles, chapters or sections.
COUNCIL. The Mapleton City Council.
COUNTY. Blue Earth County, Minnesota.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. A calendar month.
OATH.
(a) An affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in those cases the words SWEAR and SWORN shall be equivalent to the words AFFIRM and AFFIRMED.
(b) All terms shall mean a pledge taken by the person and administered by an individual authorized by state law.
OFFICER, OFFICE, EMPLOYEE, COMMISSION or DEPARTMENT. An officer, office, employee, commission or department of this city unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
PERSON.
(a) Extends to and includes an individual, person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee or receiver.
(b) 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, the officers or agents thereof.
PRECEDING or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of Minnesota.
SUBCHAPTER.
(a) A division of a chapter, designated in this code by a heading in the chapter analysis and a capitalized heading in the body of the chapter, setting apart a group of sections related by the subject matter of the heading.
(b) Not all chapters have SUBCHAPTERS.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.