The following rules or meanings shall be applied in the construction and interpretation of ordinances codified in this code of ordinances unless such application would be clearly inconsistent with the plain meaning or intent of the ordinances.
(a) Acts by agents. When an ordinance requires an act be done by a person which may be legally performed by an authorized agent of that principal person, the requirement shall be construed to include all acts performed by such agents.
(b) Code and code of ordinances. The words CODES, CODE OF ORDINANCES, and MUNICIPAL CODE, when used in any section of this code, shall refer to this code of ordinances of the village, unless the context of the section clearly indicates otherwise.
(c) Computation of time. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these ordinances, the day of the act or event from which the period of time begins to run shall not be included, but the last day of the period shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday. If the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than seven days, Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays shall be excluded in the computation. As used in this section, LEGAL HOLIDAY means any statewide legal holiday specified by state law.
(d) Fine. The term FINE shall be the equivalent of the word FORFEITURE, and vice versa.
(e) Gender. Use has been made of masculine pronouns in these ordinances solely for the sake of brevity. Unless specifically stated to the contrary, words in these ordinances referring to the masculine gender shall also be construed to apply to females, and vice versa.
(f) General rule. All words and phrases shall be construed according to their plain meaning in common usage. However, words or phrases with a technical or special meaning shall be understood and construed according to that technical or special meaning if such is the intent of the ordinances.
(g) Joint authority. All words purporting to give a joint authority to three or more village officers or employees shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons.
(h) Officers. The term OFFICERS shall refer solely to local offices created by state statute.
(i) Officials. The term OFFICIALS shall mean all village officers and employees.
(j) Person. The word PERSON shall mean any of the following entities: natural persons, corporations, partnerships, associations, bodies politic, or any other entity of any kind which is capable of being sued.
(k) Repeal. When any ordinance having the effect of repealing a prior ordinance is itself repealed, such repeal shall not be construed to revive the prior ordinance or any part thereof, unless expressly so provided.
(l) Singular and plural. Every word in these ordinances referring to the singular number only shall also be construed to apply to several persons or things, and every word in these ordinances referring to a plural number shall also be construed to apply to one person or thing.
(m) Tense. The use of any verb in the present tense shall not preclude the interpretation of the verb in the future tense where appropriate.
(n) Village. The term VILLAGE shall mean the Village of Turtle Lake, Barron and Polk Counties, Wisconsin.
(o) Wisconsin Administrative Code. The term WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE and its abbreviation as “Wis. Adm. Code” shall mean the Wisconsin Administrative Code as of the adoption of this code, as amended or renumbered from time to time.
(p) Wisconsin Statutes. The term WISCONSIN STATUTES and its abbreviation as “Wis. Stats.” shall mean, in these ordinances, the Wisconsin Statutes for the year 2021-2022, as amended from time to time.
(Prior Code, § 1-1-2)