The
following rules or meanings shall be applied in the construction and
interpretation of these ordinances unless such application would be
clearly inconsistent with the plain meaning or intent of these ordinances:
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.
Codes and Code of Ordinances. The words "Codes" and "Code of Ordinances"
when used in any section of this Code shall refer to this Code of
General Ordinances of the Village of Coloma, unless the context of
the section clearly indicates otherwise.
Computation of time. In computing any period of time prescribed or
allowed by any ordinance, 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.
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.
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.
Person. The word "persons" 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.
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ordinance is itself repealed, such repeal shall not be construed to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.
Singular and plural. Every word in any ordinance referring to the
singular number only shall also be construed to apply to several persons
or things, and every word in any ordinances referring to a plural
number shall be construed to apply to one person or thing.
Wisconsin statutes. The term "Wisconsin Statutes" and its abbreviation
as "Wis. Stats." shall mean, in these ordinances, the Wisconsin Statutes
as of the adoption of this Code, as amended or renumbered from time
to time.[1]
Wisconsin Administrative Code. The term "Wisconsin Administrative
Code" and its abbreviations 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.
If
the provisions of different chapters conflict with each other, the
provisions of each individual chapter shall control all issues arising
out of the events and persons intended to be governed by that chapter.
If
the provisions of different sections of the same chapter conflict
with each other, the provision which is more specific in its application
to the events or persons raising the conflict shall control over the
more general provision.
General
penalty. Except where a penalty is provided elsewhere in this Code,
any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Code shall
upon conviction of such violation be subject to a penalty, which shall
be as follows:
First offense penalty. Any person who shall violate any provision
of this Code shall, upon conviction thereof, forfeit not less than
$5 nor more than $500 together with the costs of prosecution and in
default of payment of such forfeiture and costs of prosecution shall
be imprisoned in the Waushara County Jail until such forfeiture and
costs are paid, but not exceeding 90 days.
Second offense penalty. Any person found guilty of violating any
ordinance or part of an ordinance of this Code, who shall previously
have been convicted of a violation of the same ordinance, within one
year shall upon conviction thereof forfeit not less than $20 nor more
than $1,000 for each such offense, together with costs of prosecutions
and in default of payment of such forfeiture and costs shall be imprisoned
in the Waushara County Jail until such forfeiture and costs of prosecution
are paid, but not exceeding six months.
Continued
violations. Each violation and each day a violation continues or occurs
shall constitute a separate offense. Nothing in this Code shall preclude
the Village from maintaining any appropriate action to prevent or
remove a violation of this Code.
Other
remedies. The Village shall have any and all other remedies afforded
by the Wisconsin Statutes in addition to the forfeitures and costs
of prosecution above.