The following rules or meanings shall be applied in the construction and interpretation 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 "Code, "Code of Ordinances" and "Municipal Code" when used in any section of this Code shall refer to this Code of the Village of Iron Ridge unless the context of the section clearly indicates otherwise.
C.
Computation of time. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by this Code, 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. Where masculine or feminine pronouns or masculine suffixes are used in this Code, it is solely for the sake of brevity. Unless context requires otherwise, this Code shall be interpreted as gender neutral, and words in this Code and ordinances adopted by the Village referring to the masculine or feminine gender, as well as words using masculine suffixes, shall be construed to refer to all such persons, without regard to a specific individual's gender or gender identity.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III)]
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.
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.
I.
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.
J.
Singular and plural. Every word in this Code referring to the singular number only shall also be construed to apply to several persons or things, and every word in this Code referred to a plural number shall also be construed to apply to one person or thing.
K.
Tense. The use of any verb in the present tense shall not preclude the interpretation of the verb in the future tense where appropriate.
L.
Wisconsin statutes. The term "Wisconsin Statutes" and its abbreviation as "Wis. Stats." shall mean the Wisconsin Statutes as of the adoption of this Code, as amended or renumbered from time to time.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III)]
M.
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.
N.
Village. The term "Village" shall mean the Village of Iron Ridge, Dodge County, Wisconsin.
O.
Clerk and Treasurer. References in the Code to the Village Clerk and/or the Village Treasurer shall be construed to mean the combined office of Village Clerk-Treasurer established by Charter Ordinance No. 89-1. See §§ 85-2 and 85-3.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III)]