(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.
CLERK-TREASURER. The Clerk-Treasurer of the Town Council.
CODE. The Walkerton Town Code, as amended.
COUNCIL. The Walkerton Town Council.
COUNTY. St. Joseph County, Indiana.
HIGHWAY. Includes bridges, roads and streets, unless otherwise expressly provided.
MONTH. One calendar month.
OWNER. Applied to a building or land, includes any person, group of persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations, or any other legal entity having legal title to or sufficient proprietary interest, of the whole or part of such building or land.
(2005 Code, § 3.07)
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.
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 real and personal property. The words PERSONAL PROPERTY shall include every species of property except real property, and the words REAL PROPERTY shall include lands, tenements and hereditaments.
(2005 Code, § 3.09)
PUBLIC PLACE. Any street or highway, sidewalk, park, cemetery, school yard or open space adjacent thereto, and any lake or stream or any other place of public resort on accommodation.
(2005 Code, § 3.10)
SIDEWALK. Any portion of the street between the curb line and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians, excluding parkways.
(2005 Code, § 3.12)
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when a person cannot write.
(2005 Code, § 3.13)
STATE. The State of Indiana.
STREET. Includes streets, avenues, boulevards, roads, alleys, viaducts and all other public highways in the Town.
(2005 Code, § 3.14)
TENANT or OCCUPANT. Applied to a building or land, includes any person holding a written or oral lease of, or who occupies the whole or a part of, such building or land, either alone or with others.
(2005 Code, § 3.15)
TOWN. The Town of Walkerton, St. Joseph County, Indiana.
VEHICLE. Any device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices moved by human power.
(2005 Code, § 3.18)
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)