(A) General rule. Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, or ordinary and usual sense. However, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(B) For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY, MUNICIPALITY, or MUNICIPAL CORPORATION. The City of Scottville, Michigan.
CITY COMMISSION or COMMISSION. The legislative body of the city.
CITY MANAGER. The City Manager of the city.
CLERK or CITY CLERK. The Clerk of the city.
CODE, THIS CODE, or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This city code as modified by amendment, revision, and adoption of new titles, chapters, or sections.
COUNTY. Mason County, Michigan.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. A calendar month.
OATH. 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.
OFFICER, OFFICE, EMPLOYEE, COMMISSION, or DEPARTMENT. An officer, office, employee, commission, or department of this city unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
PERSON. Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee, or receiver. 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.
PUBLIC PLACE. Any place to or upon which the public resorts, or travels, whether the place is owned or controlled by the city or any agency of the state or is a place to or upon which the public resorts or travels by custom, or by invitation, express or implied.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIDEWALK. The portion of a street between the curb lines or lateral lines and the right-of-way lines which is intended for the use of pedestrians.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of Michigan.
STREET, HIGHWAY, and ALLEY. The entire width subject to an easement for public right-of-way, or owned in fee by the city, county, or state, of every way or place, of whatever nature, whenever any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right for purposes of public travel. The word ALLEY shall mean any way or place providing a secondary means of ingress and egress from a property.
SUBCHAPTER. 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. 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; equivalent to the words YEAR OF OUR LORD.
(1993 Code, § 10.06)