(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.
COUNTY. County of Perry, State of Indiana.
HIGHWAY. Includes bridges, roads and streets, unless otherwise expressly provided.
MONTH. One calendar month.
OATH. Construed to include any affirmation in all cases 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.
OFFICERS GENERALLY. Whenever any officer is referred to by title, such as Auditor, Sheriff and the like, the reference shall be construed as if followed by the words “of Perry County.”
OWNER. When applied to any building or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety of the whole or of a part of that 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, the officers or agents thereof.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Includes every species of property except real property as herein defined.
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.
PROPERTY. Includes both real and personal property.
PUBLIC PLACE. Any street, highway, sidewalk, park, cemetery, school yard or open space adjacent thereto and any lake or stream.
QUORUM. A majority of the members of a board, commission or committee holding office, unless otherwise specifically provided in this code.
REAL PROPERTY. Includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
ROAD. Construed to embrace streets, avenues, boulevards, roads, alleys, viaducts and all other public highways in the county.
SIDEWALK. Any portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians, excluding parkways.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The word THE STATE or THIS STATE shall be construed to mean the State of Indiana.
TENANT or OCCUPANT. When applied to a building or land, shall include any person holding written or oral lease of or who occupied the whole or a part of the building or land, either alone or with others.
WRITTEN and IN WRITING. Include printing, lithographing or other modes of representing words and letters. 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) (1984 Code, § 1-2)