tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51750391542508634862024-03-14T05:30:48.851-04:00Norton Native IntelligenceKNOWLEDGE IS POWER... AND NORTON NATIVE INTELLIGENCE HARVESTS AND INTERPRETS THE LATEST IN GEORGIA REGIONAL DYNAMICSNative Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-2309611598207640712011-06-01T20:56:00.000-04:002011-06-01T20:56:29.551-04:00CUT TO THE BONE BEFORE YOU TAX US<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KT-UagFDeMM/TebfkslAV_I/AAAAAAAAACg/3_ahTRyh14o/s1600/iStock_000000866777Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KT-UagFDeMM/TebfkslAV_I/AAAAAAAAACg/3_ahTRyh14o/s320/iStock_000000866777Small.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>The County Commission is currently debating raising the millage rate 1.4%. Essential services to run the civilization we call home are important, but this is a time for bold leadership, fiscal conservatism and thoughtful stewardship of the people’s money (it’s ours not the county’s). It’s time to demonstrate restrained government spending before you tax us again.<br />
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Our county and most cities for that matter, continue to live off the Boom Time…. now BUST. While businesses have taken draconian 20-30% cuts, government continues to live LARGE. A 5% here and there reduction is appreciated, but it’s time like the rest of Hall County to cut into the bone and show us the beef.<br />
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Consolidate departments, cut back hours, reduce personnel, defer maintenance, postpone public works, shut down offices, eliminate double dip employment retirement policies, scale back pension 401K and adjust employee healthcare co pays. Private industry did that and more three years ago. Squeeze a dime out of our tax nickel.<br />
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All government departments must be part of the solution. For example excesses in the Sheriff’s kingdom are legendary. It’s time to run the jail like a business not a Ritz Carlton for out of town incarcerated guests (rent a prisoner). Moth ball the portions of the jail that doesn’t house Hall County offenders. The concept that “we” make money off of “them” is a bunch of hocus pocus.<br />
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Gainesville’s magnanimous statement “We don’t plan to consolidate” is also a vale cry in the wind. All cities are broke without the burden of sales tax dollars, every increasing property taxes and excessive fee revenue. It was previously announced that Gainesville’s 6 million dollar budget “surplus” is being spent on other excesses rather than returning to the people. If it’s really there, roll it back, give it back.<br />
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A declining tax base, minuscule splost tax revenues, the stagnant growth industry and financial institution meltdown will be with us for at least 3 years forward. A tax increase this year? A tax increase next? A tax increases the next? That just puts lipstick on the pig. It’s time to address the issue head on, have strong meaningful reorganization and get Hall County’s house in orde. Then and only Then, Raise Taxes.<br />
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The businesses and citizens have done their part, now it’s your turn. We’re watching.Frank Nortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06078368005218767209noreply@blogger.com75tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-55524361157237872682011-03-17T22:35:00.000-04:002011-03-17T22:35:52.296-04:00Norton reacts to census numbers showing growthBy Katie Highsmith Staff<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y4opmSqgi-0/TYLEyOXp5_I/AAAAAAAAAB8/qY0bqcYzsdU/s1600/disco+dancing+%255BConverted%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y4opmSqgi-0/TYLEyOXp5_I/AAAAAAAAAB8/qY0bqcYzsdU/s200/disco+dancing+%255BConverted%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a>GAINESVILLE - Census numbers released Thursday show the Hispanic population doubling in Georgia over the past 10 years, and the president of The Norton Agency said that's been reflected in North Georgia's real estate market. </div><br />
"Somewhere between five and seven percent of all houses sold between 2001 and 2006 were to a Hispanic family," said Frank Norton, Jr. <br />
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Norton said a segment of the Hispanic community did leave during the latter part of the decade as the economy faltered and immigration enforcement became stricter.He said the segment of the Hispanic population that stayed during the past several years has become Americanized. <br />
"Their kids go to our school system, they are shopping in our stores," Norton said. "We need to understand they are a part of our community that is going to be with us for a long time." <br />
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In addition, Thursday's census numbers also show the populations of Hall, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties outpacing the population growth in the state overall. Norton said that spectacular growth in North Georgia was expected by him and others who closely track these numbers. <br />
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"We are a very attractive community with relatively low housing costs, good strong labor rates, access to the labor markets... and all of that is a soup that mixes very well for population growth," he said. <br />
Norton said he would need to do more research into the census numbers before he could draw more complete conclusions about what the numbers mean for this area. <br />
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Forsyth County's population is put at 175,500. That's compared to 98,407 ten years ago. Hall County added 40,407 people during that time which is an increase of 29 percent. Gwinnett County also saw its population increase 36.9 percent since 2000.Frank Nortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06078368005218767209noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-34846775379091006852011-02-06T11:58:00.000-05:002011-02-06T11:58:07.169-05:00THE COLLAPSING OF OUR "HOLOGRAPHIC" GOVERNMENTOver the last 10 years, the cities and counties across Georgia, like across the nation, without really understanding the full dynamics or unintended consequences have been building “holographic” infrastructure on the backs of the local taxpayers (individual & business) . We now shockingly realize that taxes have been the government’s version of crack cocaine. Bright, gleaming police cars, gluttony pension plans, 5 weeks of paid vacation, double dipping retirement and employment policies. Soaring facilities, city halls, jails, police & fire stations, courthouses and a legion of recreational “country clubs” and state run golf courses stand as monuments to the glory of the politicians and the excess of the roaring economy. <br />
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It’s now recognized that tax bases were annually inflated by the economic rising tide, splost revenue was inflated by overzealous consumer expenditures and outrageous services fees on top of more outrageous services fees fueled the political governmental mentality akin to a “spring break – gone wild” movie. But in the words of investor Warren Buffett:<br />
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”now that the tide has gone out, we can see who’s been swimming neked!” <br />
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In our haste to spread our lotteryesque windfalls, no one took into account what it really truly cost to run and staff a 424 bed jail in Jackson County nor calculate the hvac and lifeguard bill to run community centers, the clipping and grass cutting bill for thousands of acres of parks , the security staffing cost for all of the new court houses, or the maintenance costs of expansive secondary schools and gymnasiums (better facilities than most college campuses), man all of the fire trucks or provide personnel to oversee hundreds of new ordinances and charges.<br />
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In a bloated economy, no one watches the store. The spin and hype of community boosterism overwhelms the psyche, envelopes the mind with well intentioned progress. <br />
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An invincibility mind set emerges: “never, no not here. We’re different.” The argument “well if we don’t use the state/ (federal) grant we’ll lose it” doesn’t stand muster either. That money isn’t free; it’s still the citizen’s hard-earned scrip. We now see future commissions/councils further shackling the local government budgets. So today we have roads that serve little to no purpose in South Georgia. We run small town transportation systems that have abysmal occupancy and full scale government video production facilities in many counties broadcasting meetings on cable TV to audiences of less than a handful. We have hook and ladder fire trucks following 2 police cars and an emergency response van to every fender bender when one response vehicle might do.<br />
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Alas, we have built a great gleaming monumental infrastructure called 21st century civilization, only now the taxpayer and local businesses are trying to hurdle a bigger mountain to financially support it.<br />
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No one wants to talk about, nor touch the declining values on a county’s tax base nor heaven forbid, approve an increase in millage rates, nor cut back on any departments budgets. In the eyes of most local government managers everything is sacred, everything is essential government services. While businesses have swallowed the bitter pill of downsizing, local governments have been impotent in their actions. It’s hard to fathom how they can pat themselves on the back and ‘hold’ budgets and taxes at “par” when most Georgia businesses have slimmed their overhead 10 15 to 30%? It’s too hard to take away an entitlement once it’s been given. <br />
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Raising user fees for services, permits, user fees, sprinkler fees, fire protection surcharges, water/sewer rates, garbage collection, and applications is not the panacea either. The citizens are too smart, businesses too savvy for those actions and are starting to wake up and voice their concerns, first privately in the coffee shops, then at the ballot box. The quiet pro business revolution is simmering. “How do we continue to feed the monster?”<br />
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Ronald Reagan said “when a business or individual spends more than it makes it goes bankrupt. When government does, it sends you the bill.”<br />
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It’s time to re-prioritize government services into two buckets – “must haves” and “like to haves” then strongly demand they shift financial resources accordingly. The pain for the most part will be temporary, the noise loud. <br />
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Other thoughts <br />
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We should be fully supportive of Splosts as funding mechanisms it’s the accountability and stewardship of the expenditures that’s gives us concern <br />
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Evaluate “gifts” or “grants” of state or federal money based on long term reoccurring costs to the citizens. Look carefully at employment stimulus grants for the same unintended consequences of forward financial commitments and long term tax payer burdens. Free is not free.<br />
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■all counties and the state need to find a way to improve the efficiency of the education delivery system to hold down cost (both secondary and primary). The lottery has been a miraculous windfall but we can no longer rely on that sustainable flow of income<br />
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Reduce planning, permitting and inspection departments to a sound solid core. County governments must face the reality that there won’t be a construction development boom for 8 to 10 years. They’re not needed for planning and zoning, but we also caution against shifting them to long range planning or new ordinance creation, that’s just playing a shell game with human resources. <br />
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■find a way to scale back, warehouse or eliminate services that no longer serve the masses. ‘If it doesn’t cash flow – let it go.”.<br />
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■face the reality that government does not exist for the sake of employees. It exists to assist and govern non-government employees.<br />
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■become business friendly, not revenue enhanced. Strip laws, ordinances and fees passed over the last 10 years to the bone. Look at the full ordinance cost of enforcement and implementation. Recently, it took Norton’s staff 3 manpower hours to fill out 3applications, produce a scaled drawing to permit a temporary “party” tent on our office front lawn, that’s private property. These applications were processed by numerous govt employees, and later once erected was inspected by a fire Marshall for safety. The same tent used hundreds of times in the city. The permit cost was $5.00. Permits for permit sake are just one word – bureaucracy.<br />
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The stark reality is that government got too big because we thought we had unlimited sustainable resources. In the boom times Georgia governments artificially pumped up tax collection rates and over spent. In 2007 -2009 as the revenues shrank many local governments’ depleted reserves to keep things in the status quo and now face empty coffers. We do note that some are attempting to replenish. <br />
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We have all enjoyed the fruits of a hologram government dazzling the citizens with virtual magic and little or no substance. Now it’s a time for a major fast.Frank Nortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06078368005218767209noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-20076639657092106212010-12-07T22:17:00.000-05:002010-12-07T22:17:50.189-05:00SECOND HOMES IN NORTH GA<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/TP74zH51HrI/AAAAAAAAABw/bF7a6O8XqvA/s1600/iStock_000005192988Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/TP74zH51HrI/AAAAAAAAABw/bF7a6O8XqvA/s320/iStock_000005192988Small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>North Georgia is rich with mountains, lakes, natural beauty — and plenty of bargains on attractive vacation homes.<br />
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Buyers have a unique opportunity to pick up a second home or retirement home in North Georgia, as sellers have lowered prices and banks have put foreclosures back on the market at a bargain. Despite the economy, the market is still moving and some submarkets are experiencing a healthy recovery, local real estate experts say.<br />
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“We have seen a pretty significant pick-up across the board,” said Faron King, president-elect of the Northeast Georgia Board of Realtors.Mountain cabins have been especially strong sellers, and there has been a resurgence in the market for upper-end lake properties, King said.<br />
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“Some of the strongest demand is for cabins in the woods from $120,000 to $250,000 or even $300,000,” said Frank Norton Jr., president of the The Norton Agency in Gainesville. “People are still looking for a recreational house in the woods.”Around Lake Lanier, the market for second homes has made a nice recovery, and Realtors are seeing “a super-strong market for lake homes under $500,000,” Norton said.<br />
But some market segments are suffering.There is a 10-year supply of homes more than $1 million and that market remains soft, Norton said. In addition, about 65,000 vacant lots are for sale across the state of Georgia, he said.<br />
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“The market for second-home lots is very saturated, and that’s going to take some time to work itself out,” Norton said.<br />
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Prices have come down significantly throughout North Georgia.“It’s an incredible time to be a buyer — you’ve never had more to pick from and the prices have never been better,” said King, managing broker of Coldwell Banker High Country Realty.<br />
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There will soon be a new opportunity to buy in the exclusive Montaluce Winery and Estates, a community of European-style villages and Tuscan architecture set on 400 acres in the rolling hills of Dahlonega.At the heart of the community is a modern 25,000-square-foot winery that houses a tasting room, restaurant and wine-making facility. Montaluce is built around European culture.“You’re not buying into a home, you are buying into a lifestyle,” said Rob Beecham, chief operating officer of Beecham Builders LLC.About 60 of the 300 home sites have been sold, and home prices range from $600,000 to $1.5 million. But Montaluce is launching a new, more affordable option.“With the changed economy and changed mind-set, we are developing a weekend cottage in the low $300,000s,” Beecham said.<br />
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Beecham Builders is a family-run firm that has been building custom homes in Atlanta for four generations. It specializes in the $1 million to $5 million-plus range, but recognize the economy calls for new options.“The guy who wouldn’t have thought twice about buying a million-dollar second home — that buyer has probably changed,” he said.The weekend cottages will be targeted at people who want a weekend home to use five to 10 days a month. They are not being built yet, but are expected to start in the first quarter of 2011.Beecham is taking reservations now, and sales will start early next year.<br />
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Another new opportunity in Dahlonega is at Achasta, a residential golf community developed by Reynolds Signature Communities, the creator of Reynolds Plantation.Achasta features mountain views, walking trails, and a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. The development has about 200 homes, and will eventually have more than 700, said Mike Langella, executive vice president of Reynolds Development & Management Group.<br />
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Prices are from the low $400,000s to more than $1 million. However, Reynolds recently designed some single-family detached homes that will be built in the $300,000 range, Langella said.They also launched a financing incentive this year that allows buyers to make a small down payment and then Reynolds will pay their interest for 35 months.“That makes it really attractive to purchase a home site today,” Langella said.Beyond financial incentives, the Reynolds name goes a long way, Langella added.“People know the Reynolds brand and they know the quality that we develop,” he said.Reynolds is also marketing Lake Burton Club in North Georgia, which is a luxury community of second homes. About 123 of the 230 sites have been sold so far.Reynolds acquired the property, which features a golf course with striking views and other luxury amenities, in April and is repositioning it.<br />
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“Our expertise is adding value to communities via amenities and programming,” Langella said.Aside from high-end facilities, planned activities and a social network, planned communities offer other advantages. Owners enjoy green space and spacious lots, but don’t need to worry about what could be built next door.<br />
Another benefit is enjoying the outdoors without having to care for it.<br />
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“There is a sense of privacy and lots of land, but everything is taken care of,” Beecham said.Beecham said Dahlonega is ideal for retirement and vacation homes because it’s a beautiful location that is conveniently close — about an hour’s drive — to Atlanta. It’s very different than spending several hours to get to say, Highlands, N.C.This means Atlantans can spend more weekends vacationing, and retirees can easily access Atlanta’s health care, shopping and entertainment.“You can enjoy the mountain life but still make it down to Nordstrom in 45 minutes,” he saidFrank Nortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06078368005218767209noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-86711004497425561662010-10-17T08:42:00.000-04:002010-10-17T08:42:25.292-04:00Foreclosures stable in North Georgia as rate increases nationwide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/TLruyBEY8yI/AAAAAAAAABs/hmyy-d1veEY/s1600/iStock_000004260027Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/TLruyBEY8yI/AAAAAAAAABs/hmyy-d1veEY/s320/iStock_000004260027Small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Carolyn Crist<br />
<a href="mailto:ccrist@gainesvilletimes.com">ccrist@gainesvilletimes.com</a><br />
October 17, 2010<br />
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Nationally, more homes went into foreclosure this summer than in any three-month stretch since the housing market began to fall in 2006. In Hall County, however, the numbers are hovering at the same level.<br />
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"We've been trending around 300 foreclosures for some time and do not anticipate double or triple that," said local real estate expert Frank Norton Jr. of The Norton Agency. "We've already gone through the big surge and should see these numbers through the first half of the year before dropping into the 200s."<br />
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A total of 288,345 properties were lost nationwide to foreclosure in the July-September quarter, according to data released Thursday by RealtyTrac Inc., a foreclosure listing service. That's up from 270,000 in the second quarter, the previous high point in the firm's records dating back to 2005.Banks have seized more than 816,000 homes through the first nine months of the year, and are on the way to seize 1.2 million by the end of 2010.<br />
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"The third quarter accelerated foreclosures because 12 months ago we saw major job losses, and the banks are trying to clean up their portfolio by the end of the year and move the inventory out by the end of December," Norton said. "It's unfortunate, but it's all a part of the overall economy cleaning itself up."<br />
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On Wednesday, officials in 50 states and the District of Columbia launched a joint investigation into the use of robotic signatures on foreclosure papers, and many owners may challenge foreclosures in court because of allegations that banks evicted people without reading the documents.<br />
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Norton isn't seeing much of the controversy in Georgia.<br />
"We as a state have efficient foreclosure processes, and I don't foresee any challenges or lawsuits," he said. "For example, I see foreclosure notices in the papers, and one may appear one month and the next month it appears again because someone has corrected a title or problem. There seems to be more policing in Georgia."<br />
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Major national lenders have put a moratorium on foreclosures until the robotic signature issue is addressed. The delay could amount to a temporary lull followed by a spike in home repossessions early next year, which would further affect home sales and prices.<br />
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The states most affected by the foreclosure freeze accounted for 40 percent of all foreclosure activity in the third quarter and 36 percent of homes taken back by lenders, RealtyTrac said. Sales of homes by lenders made up 18 percent of all U.S. home sales in September, the firm said.<br />
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"Someone needs to put their eyes on every foreclosure and explore if the owner qualifies for government stimulus money or any method to keep the homeowner in the house," Norton said. "In Georgia, when a bank forecloses, they're only recovering about 65 to 68 percent of their costs. If they were to negotiate with a short sale, which is taking a little less, they could recover about 81 to 82 percent."Norton foresees a "huge" short sale market in 2011 and recently sent about 95 percent of his agents to a continuing education workshop to certify them in short sales to help customers.<br />
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"It's to the banks' advantage to work through a short sale than to foreclose," Norton said. "One of the things we have to pay attention to is trying to mitigate their losses by working with the seller and homeowner. We're seeing this a little bit more."Economic woes, such as unemployment or reduced income, continue to be the main catalysts for foreclosures this year.<br />
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"About 20 to 30 percent are still subprime, and many are Hispanic, but most that we see are still job loss. I still expect 300 to 325 in the Hall County market over the next six months," he said. "If job loss stabilizes, it'll come down the second half of 2011, but there are still too many people with job loss foreclosures in the pipeline."<br />
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While bank repossessions rose in the third quarter, new defaults continued to decline.About 270,000 properties nationwide received default notices, the first step in the foreclosure process, down 1 percent from the second quarter and down 21 percent from the same period last year, according to RealtyTrac, which tracks notices for defaults, scheduled home auctions and home repossessions.<br />
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More than 930,000 homeowners received a foreclosure-related warning between July and September, up nearly 4 percent from the second quarter but down 1 percent from the same period last year, RealtyTrac said. The latest tally translates to one in 139 U.S. homes.<br />
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The selling market hasn't completely stopped in northern Georgia. Norton's agents are still selling cabins in the woods, houses less than $250,000 and houses on Lake Lanier below $500,000.<br />
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"Right now we have hover buyers out there," he said. "When a new house comes on the market, they go see it immediately, but if it doesn't meet their exact needs, they go back to hovering."<br />
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The Associated Press contributed to this reportFrank Nortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06078368005218767209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-24119938025591392272010-09-29T20:32:00.001-04:002010-09-29T20:35:06.592-04:00Region's 'Road to Recovery' paved with tourism dollars<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/TKPbH0vM5iI/AAAAAAAAABo/0khHBQg8UU0/s1600/dreamstime_1017601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/TKPbH0vM5iI/AAAAAAAAABo/0khHBQg8UU0/s320/dreamstime_1017601.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>By Staff<br />
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Frank Norton Jr. speaks to the group at North Georgia College and State University Wednesday DAHLONEGA - A group of more than 100 students, faculty, and business and civic leaders from around the region gathered at North Georgia College and State University Wednesday morning to hear an update on the region's economy.<br />
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"The Road to Recovery" was presented by Frank Norton Jr., president of The Norton Agency, a regional insurance and real estate firm based in Gainesville.<br />
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Over the last decade, a growing population and healthy economy pushed the housing and construction industry into the number one industry in much of the region, Norton said. But the recession caused the growth engine to stall and brought the housing market to a near stand-still.<br />
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"Now it's paused, so tourism is second and agribusiness would be third," he said. "That pause, because of the housing and second home market and the development and the lending component and the banking component and buying refrigerators all being interrelated … all of that is now paused."<br />
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Many communities in north Georgia already are well-poised to use the tourism and hospitality industries to bring in revenue and move forward into recovery, Norton said.<br />
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"The stay vacation that we're experiencing here is the new norm. … That is coming to the mountains and leaving some of your dollars here," Norton said. "This hospitality/tourism, I believe, in this age of austerity that we're all moving toward, is going to be a strong component of what we need to be doing in north Georgia for employment."<br />
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The tourism industry would benefit from unified marketing across the mountains region as well as more destination attractions in the area, Norton said. But the region as a whole needs to address certain areas to begin moving into recovery, he said, including:<br />
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· Transportation and accessibility to jobs for potential employees<br />
· More education for residents, including high school, technical trades and recreational education<br />
· Quality of life issues such as environment, health care and affordable housing at multiple price points<br />
· Government infrastructure such as roads, recreation, welcome centers, parks and trails<br />
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Norton has been presenting the Native Intelligence forecast for more than 20 years and the 2011 forecast will feature input from an undergraduate class in the university's Mike Cottrell School of Business. As part of his forecast, Norton identifies 10 trends that bear watching in the coming year. In January, one of the trends will have been researched and presented by North Georgia students and faculty. The students already have begun working on the research for that presentationFrank Nortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06078368005218767209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-73074977379139617642010-08-28T09:49:00.000-04:002010-08-28T09:49:37.907-04:00LAKE LANIER MIDYEAR 2010<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/THkTVIlBVEI/AAAAAAAAABg/UogBr-JuTj8/s1600/iStock_000000952829Medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/THkTVIlBVEI/AAAAAAAAABg/UogBr-JuTj8/s320/iStock_000000952829Medium.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Lake Lanier is in a period of healing. Rocked by a triple whammy of perpetual low water levels, economic collapse affecting affluent buyers/sellers and the shaking consumer confidence evaporating 2nd home buyers. The vibrancy of the market must be kick started – re energized.Now that we’ve reached full pool sidelined sellers have flooded the market and inventory has soared● ● listings up from 341 to 477 in 6 months. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But the good news, NO THE GREAT NEWS, is that closed sales are up 40% resulting in months of supply dropping from 36 to 31.8 months. In a normal market, had supply remained level that might have been down to as much as 22 months. Prices of homes sold have dropped significantly. Sales of foreclosures, stressed sales, long aged listedproduct and short sales have applied downward pressure on sales prices. Mid year average is 426,500.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The harsh reality of the market is that the overhang in inventory and the National economic doldrums will continue to place pressure on ALL SELLERS. Buyers today have their mask on and gun out ready to rob the bank. Reality is today’s sellers must dress their property for success. A million dollar house has got to look like a million and a half. The best homes price, best presentation , best condition sells first. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Reality is the first offer is still always the best. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Reality is that before you tread into Lake Lanier market you must have a professional “Lake” broker by your side. Today’s lake broker understands how to guide the buyer or seller through this moving asteroid belt of moving parts. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The Reality is that in a market in flux, sellers must be patient, deliberate, and focused. It took 4 years for the lake’s environmental health to recover. It will take an equal amount for it’s economic health to do the same.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Frank Nortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06078368005218767209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-26809197436783071012010-08-28T08:34:00.000-04:002010-08-28T08:34:06.539-04:00HOUSING MARKETS, JOB MARKETS FATES TIESMelissa Weinman<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/THkCLL24jCI/AAAAAAAAABY/cgzqjdHDAdk/s1600/iStock_000003197956Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/THkCLL24jCI/AAAAAAAAABY/cgzqjdHDAdk/s320/iStock_000003197956Small.jpg" /></a></div><a href="mailto:mweinman@gainesvilletimes.com">mweinman@gainesvilletimes.com</a><br />
August 27, 2010<br />
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If the housing market and the job market are any indication, economic recovery is a slow journey.<br />
The Labor Department reported that requests for unemployment benefits nationwide fell sharply last week - a hopeful sign the job market is improving. The drop in first-time claims to a seasonally adjusted 473,000 was the first decline in a month. Still, unemployment claims remain much higher than in a normal economy.<br />
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Signs are less promising in the housing market. The cumulative effects of unemployment and underemployment are still causing people to lose their homes in Northeast Georgia.<br />
"The lingering unemployment and job loss is increasing the number of job loss foreclosures," said Frank Norton Jr. of the Norton Agency in Gainesville. "Much of the foreclosures we saw in 2007, 2008 and 2009 were builder and subprime-related foreclosures. We are now seeing more job loss foreclosures in this region.<br />
"They may even be underemployed today and can no longer afford their mortgage."<br />
About 9.9 percent of homeowners nationwide had missed at least one mortgage payment as of June 30, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Thursday. That number, adjusted for seasonal factors, was barely down from a record high of more than 10 percent as of April 30. The number of Americans who are missing payments and falling into foreclosure has followed the trend in unemployment. The jobless rate has remained near double digits all year.<br />
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"Ultimately, the housing story, whether it is delinquencies, homes sales or housing starts, is an employment story," Jay Brinkmann, the Mortgage Bankers Association's top economist, said in a statement. "Only when we see a consistent increase in employment will we see an increase in sales and starts, and a sustained improvement in the delinquency numbers."<br />
Norton said people in Hall County are still buying houses because they are able to take advantage of lower prices and interest rates.<br />
"Our sales are still brisk as compared to 2008 and 2009," Norton said. "We're seeing maybe 40 percent of all houses are either foreclosures or stressed sales. We've seen an increased number of traditional sales over the last 90 days as people who want to sell have become very realistic about their sales price. It's still very much a buyer's market."<br />
Foreclosures and distressed home sales have pressured home values and made it difficult for builders to compete with the low prices. Some potential sellers also have been discouraged from putting homes on the market. The recent drop in unemployment claims comes after a steep rise the previous three weeks that sent claims to their highest level in nine months. Even with last week's decline, the four-week average, a less volatile measure, rose to 486,750, the most since November 2009. Jobless claims fell steadily last year as the economy began expanding, dropping from a peak of 651,000 in March 2009 to about 460,000 at the start of this year. After fluctuating around that level for most of this year, claims started climbing again last month.<br />
In a healthy economy, claims generally fall below 400,000. Norton said Northeast Georgia has been lucky to attract new jobs to the area.<br />
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"On the positive side is that Hall, Jackson and Forsyth (counties) are getting a disproportionate share of new businesses relocating into this area," Norton said. "Georgia State (University) has released that there's been about 5,000 new job announcements since Jan. 1 for businesses on the north side of Atlanta.<br />
The Associated Press contributed to this report<br />
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/37112/Frank Nortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06078368005218767209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-72550875399840672092010-06-29T13:41:00.000-04:002010-06-29T13:42:37.692-04:00Life After the Home Buyer Tax CreditIt's safe to say now that the action brought to the nation's housing markets by the Homebuyer Tax Credit is over. Any buyers who wished to take advantage of this credit had to have been in contract by April 30 and now must close by June 30.<br /><br />But please remain seated before exiting this ride and declaring the housing market D-O-O-M-E-D (as several headlines have cried this week). See, there is still a very key factor in place that is working in homebuyers' favor:<br /><br />Historically Low Interest Rates<br /><br />This often-overlooked little fact is actually a really important point to ponder. That's because when you look at today's rates, which average around 4.75 percent on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's latest survey, you realize what a win this is for borrowers - even for those who missed the tax credit deadline.<br /><br />These low rates are far more significant than any tax credit in terms of savings and incentive to stoke demand. How is that? Well, let's look at the math:<br /><br />Let's say today's buyer is looking at a 5 percent interest rate on a 30-year fixed loan of $285,000. He's disappointed at missing out on the tax credit, but since he's able to lock in at a lower rate than he would've gotten two months ago at 5.25 percent, he's actually saving $15,782 in interest over the life of the loan, which according to my math is significantly higher savings than what that tax credit would've gotten him ($8,000).<br /><br />So today's buyer nearly doubles his savings in interest compared with the April tax-credit buyers? Doesn't spell D-O-O-M to me.<br /><br />Let's look at another scenario:<br /><br />This buyer would be able to lock in a 5.25 percent rate on a 30-year fixed loan of $400,000 in July. There's no tax credit to light a fire under his decision, but say the economic news circles expect a slight uptick in rates by the end of August. If he waits, he'll risk increasing his rate to 5.35 percent, thereby adding $8,943 in interest to the life of his loan.<br /><br />I'm not saying that rates will save the day. Remember: There are no quick fixes. But we also have to be sure we understand the forces that are working in the market's favor.<br /><br />Tax credits may come and go, but at the end of the day it's things like historic low interest rates that will keep buyers interested.<br /><br />F.Native Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-13496251697393700132010-05-31T09:23:00.007-04:002010-08-28T08:36:45.588-04:00HOME IRA COULD SAVE THE ECONOMY<div><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/TAO9TtdwOkI/AAAAAAAAABA/LyEGyq6GwiM/s1600/iStock_000005755551Small.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477429718132210242" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YCWhJP6Vq1E/TAO9TtdwOkI/AAAAAAAAABA/LyEGyq6GwiM/s320/iStock_000005755551Small.jpg" style="float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Norton Native Intelligence™</span><br />
White Paper 2010<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Housing Solution</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">A Economic Solution</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">A National Solution</span><br />
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Housing, home ownership, construction, renovation, development and the chain of material goods filling them are the bedrock of the American economy. Some reports place the housing industry and its associated components accounting for as much as 30% of the Gross National Product , GNP. Growth, America’s growth may also be our nation’s largest industry when you factor into the mix lending, construction, marketing, household goods and services.<br />
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The recent boom to bust economic collapse sharply points to the importance of a stable housing market and the financial security of America’s citizens. The shaken public has been pelted with soaring foreclosure rates, the exposure of predatory lending practices, hyper inflated home prices - then collapse and mortgage rate interest resets. The homeowners’ tax credit program is predicated, upon expiration, to successfully remove some 4 million homes from inventory, but inventories of unsold properties remain at historic levels.<br />
<span id="fullpost"><br />
New Homes & Condos Available (1) 500,000 Homes<br />
Resale Homes For Sale (2) 3,500,000 Homes<br />
Phantom Foreclosure Inventory (3) 1,500,000 Homes<br />
Vacant Developed Lot Inventory (4) 2,500,000 Lots<br />
Potential Home Mortgage resets 2010 – 2012 (5) 3,000,000 Homes<br />
Foreclosures 2009 (6) 2,600,000 Homes<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Source<br />
1 - Census NAR Estimates<br />
2 – National Association of Realtors<br />
3 – Forbes Magazine<br />
4 - Metrostudy<br />
5 – Credit Suisse<br />
6 – Realty Trac</span><br />
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In today’s economic climate and investment uncertainty, personally held IRA’s, Roth IRA’s and 401K plans, while protected from access, have also taken a performance beating. It is estimated that over 1.4 trillion dollars is held in such accounts. The values were decimated in 2008 with slight recovery in 2009. Moreover, substantial amounts have been moved out of the stock market or indexes and are sitting sidelined, untouchable, stagnant in value but protected from further market losses.</span></div><br />
<div>The bold solution to the housing based economy is to create a new IRA class of product called the HOME IRA, which would allow a portion – not all –of ones personal IRA, SEP IRA or 401K to be invested in an Individual's personal home, second home or rental property. This new investment class, with modern technology, can be tracked separately as a unit of a tax payer’s retirement account just as stock indexes, mutual funds or long term CD’s are recorded. While not as liquid as other investments, the HOME IRA provides the participant a degree of safety, security and comfort unlike other investment vehicles. Of course, many safeguards would need to be written into the legislation and IRA mechanics such as:<br />
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<ul><li>No more than 50% of cumulative household IRA, 401K or SEP IRA could be applied to a HOME IRA.</li>
<li>There would be a prohibition of home equity loans against the pledged collateral while the HOME IRA is in use.</li>
<li>The HOME IRA could only be used for homeowner down payment, loan reduction/restructure or substantial remodeling, but ordinary upkeep or repair of a home would be prohibited.</li>
<li>A required third party appraisal for price/investment verification every five years would help monitor and adjust portfolio value.</li>
<li>Qualifying properties must be within the 50 US states</li>
<li>At resale of the home, the Home IRA full proceeds must be reinvested in a home or principal and interest returned to a traditional IRA.</li>
</ul>The benefits of such a HOME IRA product would ripple through the American economy thousandfold.</div><div><ul><li>The HOME IRA would stabilize the housing market, would stimulate both new purchases and major home renovation while continuing to remove outstanding product inventories.</li>
<li>The provision would allow HOME IRA funds to pay down large outstanding mortgages thus freeing up ordinary taxpayer cash to flow back into the American economy thereby stimulating the same.</li>
<li>Allows the taxpayers using HOME IRA’s to diversify their personal retirement portfolios through real estate ownership.</li>
<li>Encourages lower and middle class income groups to invest through the Home IRA, 401K products in order to take future advantage of real estate investment opportunities in personal home ownership.</li>
<li>The “renovation” feature will stimulate the home building, construction component and products supply chain and strengthen small business which would result in stabilization of employment moving the economy toward full employment.</li>
<li>Return small home rental opportunities and investment to the middle class taxpayer and allows local taxpayers to invest money back into their local economy. It also creates a pool of potential rental home inventory, reducing the number of resale homes and providing affordable housing opportunities.</li>
<li>Stabilizes the hard hit second home markets in Colorado, Florida, the mountain cabin regions and along both coasts, through the access to IRA/401K funds making those investments part of a taxpayers overall retirement program.</li>
</ul></div><div><strong>Conclusion</strong><br />
It is imperative the US economy return to its vibrant dominance on the World stage. Domestic production and employment are critical to the full recovery of our economy and real estate is the leading and integral component. The HOME IRA product and modification to current IRA. 401K regulations jumpstarts, if not accomplishes, America’s goal for full recovery.<br />
<strong>Frank K. Norton. Jr.</strong><br />
<strong>The Norton Agency</strong> </div></div>Frank Nortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06078368005218767209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-4181840534280235032010-05-17T08:58:00.001-04:002010-05-17T08:59:48.468-04:00Cuba today: Communism is a failureBy Frank Norton Jr.<br />For The Times<br /><br />POSTED May 16, 2010 12:30 a.m. <br /> <br /><br />Today the people of Cuba are living under a form of the Stockholm Syndrome: Smiling contentedly, living day to day on the government babble and the food dole.<br /><br />Just as kidnappers shape the long-term victim's relationship with the captor, Cuban leadership has used starvation, deprivation and indoctrination, to forge an alliance with its citizens. Any thought of running away is buried deep in the dark recesses of the victims' mind.<br /><br />Today, the Cuban people have lost all personal freedom, lost all personal property and now occupy government-owned, rotting, worn-out buildings that are crumbling around them. There is no pride of ownership, little pride of country; the communist government has taken much of this away from the once thriving Garden of Eden. Alas, poor Babylon.<br /><br />Recently my wife, Nancy, and I took a the trip of a lifetime and had an eyewitness experience with 21st century communism. I think it's important to know your history, where you came from. For me, it's been a 54-year journey surrounded by the barbed-wire fence that is a political embargo.<br /><br />People always say that things aren't like you remember them. In my case, I was 2 the last time I visited Cuba. (My mother is from Cuba having gone to Brenau College and settling in Gainesville after meeting and marrying my Gainesville-born father).<br /><br />We got the chance of a lifetime to travel two weeks with a United Methodist mission team — to walk into the house my great-grandfather built for his family, the house my mother considered her home; to see what's left of the family business; and to see a private school spanning six city blocks. This trip was very personal, filling a whole hole in my legacy, making family stories real.<br /><br />The story of the Methodist Church in Cuba is powerful statement to Christian discipleship. The church began sending missionaries in the 1800s establishing a network of churches and a growing membership. After Castro and communism took over and outlawed the official teaching of religion, we are told the Methodist Church did not close any of their churches but continued to worship under the piercing eyes of the military.<br /><br />After Russia pulled its financial and military support in 1992, Fidel Castro modified his policies, opened up the country to foreign investment, European tourism and limited religious freedom. <br /><br />In 1996, the Methodist church created a mission center in downtown Havana as a central support center, dormitory, dining and fellowship area. The church also received permission to bring a 12-person mission team from the U.S. monthly.<br /><br />Since that time, the visiting teams have built churches, a 600-person Christian retreat center, nursing homes and have added pastor housing. Our team was responsible for completing two classrooms in the new Methodist seminary.<br /><br />Yes, in this communist, socialist, atheist country, the Methodists have created a seminary to teach Cuban ministers who will go out into the countryside and preach the word of God, minister to the struggling people and strengthen the faith of its congregation.<br /><br />Our perceived notions of strong-fisted military rule, blaring pro-Castro, anti-U.S. propaganda and limited visitor access were all wrong. There seemed to be little to no formalized government structure. Military were seen but only in casual situations absent of guns, and we had total freedom and comfort traveling, walking and asking the thousands of questions that filled our minds. <br /><br />Some observations from our daily journals: <br /><br />Underground capitalism: Throughout our visit, we've seen small flares of capitalism: the man selling pizzas out of his basement; an elderly gentleman dressing three dachshunds in hats, coats and sunglasses charging $1 per picture; the Cuban Coco cabs that charged $6 a trip; vendors in the crafts shops selling carved ebony statues or colorful canvases.<br /><br />Capitalism is alive, thriving actually, in the deep bowels of Cuban life. Capitalism may even be the dark underbelly of successful communism. In a totalitarian state, the underground microeconomy keeps the engine running and the populous content and fed.<br /><br />Visual stimulus: No signs, no American-style advertising blaring 24-7. The Cuban landscape is deprived of advertising and mass media messages. Yes, there is the occasional billboard of propaganda or the rough sketch of hero Che Guevara, but it is almost a pleasant relief from the American media overload.<br /><br />The greatest marketing idea I came across was an old tire on a pole in the middle of the street in the dark slums of old Havana, pointing to the tire repair in the garage next door. The next day we noticed the owner had added a bicycle tire, expanding his product line. <br /><br />Cuban Baroque: In the 1800s, the European influences on Cuban architecture were profound: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Beaux Arts, Regency, Renaissance style, pilasters, friezes, corbels, columns, garlands on stone, lobster keystones, fruit, curved shell pediments, wonderful illuminated colored glass transoms, mahogany balconies, iron, caryatids, carved elaborate lintels and massive porches. They called it Cuban Baroque, a highly defined Italian-French influenced architectural style. Now it's simply crumbling and worn out — Cuban "broke."<br /><br />The nondisposable society: Cuba is a nation of usability — everything is precious, nothing is wasted. Clothes are handed down for generations, and at the point of shreds, they become rags. Broom bristles are sold at the stores but no handles are to be found. Our assistant, Larry, uses a needle and thread to repair the soles of his ancient tennis shoes.<br /><br />Cuba has learned to recycle, out of embargo necessity. And they have perfected the practice. A broken mirror thrown in the trash by of one of our mission team is quickly retrieved and spread to a dozen hands to shine once again.<br /><br />Black market: Everyday life is pelted with the need for the basics. Outside or inside (we can't decide — it is hard to tell which) of watchful eyes are the black markets. One such market is set up in an abandoned shoe store. Inside is the hustle of vendors and shoppers peering in one glass case after another. The contents are a mishmash of plumbing parts, glimmering gold earrings, square camera flash bulbs, vintage 78 records and motorcycle parts. The air is abuzz, the prices are within reach. Markets like this play a vital part in Cuban everyday existence.<br /><br />The embargo: Our days passed and our opinion of the anti-Castro embargo has changed. It does not hurt Castro or his oblivious government; it hurts the children, old men and women and everyone in between.<br /><br />Cubans have become adaptable, compliant and resilient. Everyone seems well fed but at the same time starving for basic needs: toilet paper, toothpaste, medicine, clothes, light bulbs, meat and eggs. Despite the great minds in Washington, Cubans will not rise up from within and overthrow Castro. They are too beaten down, unknowing, too tired to overthrow anyone.<br /><br />La Revolution: The museum of La Revolution paints an interesting portrait of American involvement in Cuba. This sanitized vision of how things happened and why presents the Cubans and foreign visitors a distinctive message: "La Revolution good, America terrible."<br /><br />But it's the strong emphasis on current President Raul Castro, Fidel's brother, throughout the museum that was the greatest surprise. While we in America see Fidel Castro as the linchpin leader, he has lost his local luster and his image is almost invisible, being expunged in the government public propaganda.<br /><br />Hero, Che's picture is painted everywhere, and when asking our guides the reason we are quietly told, "Castro is considered a failure."<br /><br />Grumpy old men: Today's Cuba is run by a small band of grumpy old men, distant and out of touch with the modern world and modern civilizations. These men, victorious in their waltz (not fight) into Havana on New Year's Eve 1959, continue to celebrate their victory 51 years later while the spoils (Cuba) crumble around them.<br /><br />Victorious yes; winners no! The past is past. Today's reality is underemployment for 11 million people, living in huts, widespread poverty, rolling shortages and economic collapse. This Garden of Eden is overgrown with tangled twisted jungle and the biggest jungles are in the tangled minds of grumpy old men.<br /><br />Independence will be difficult.<br /><br />Is Cuba lost? Time has perhaps passed by Cuban independence; the generation that fled Cuba to America is 50 years older, the passionate revolutionaries, future liberators of a communist Cuba, are now dead.<br /><br />Will their children have the same passion and drive to liberate, the desire to reclaim their country? Or will they, as American citizens, see their heritage as just a sidebar to their lives in their adopted country?<br /><br />Who will lead Cuba back to the promised land? Who will be passionate enough to liberate Cuba? And bring it back into the 20th century, much less the 21st?<br /><br />In the museum La Revolution, we saw a quote by a 1959 Castro that is a haunting message even for today: "For the first time in the history of this country, the people and the government have left aside the rich side and have joined the poor side."<br /><br />Alas, poor Babylon.<br /><br />Frank Norton Jr. is a Gainesville real estate executiveNative Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-42068567726400903202010-05-14T15:36:00.003-04:002010-05-14T15:42:44.339-04:00YARD SALEWith over 1,000 listed properties values at almost a billion dollars (with the letter "<strong>B</strong>") it's time to have a <strong>YARD SALE!!</strong><br /><br />In fact, NORTH GEORGIA'S LARGEST YARD SALE. We as a company have been selling North Georgia "by the yard" since 1928 and improving the economy "one yard at a time."<br /><br />Norton's great "yard sale" promotion is a marketing advertising program to create a buzz in our communities and is not a DISCOUNT PROGRAM.<br /><br />The program will run from April to September during our key selling season. The program will<br /><br />-Redesign our traditional print media<br />-Place rotating eye catching signage at our offices<br />-Featured homes of the week<br />-Provide image giveaways (i.e. yardsticks) to our customers and friends<br /><br />Our goal is to create an element of excitement, energy and movement for our listing clients, focusing on a unique buying opportunity. This should give our sellers comfort, that Norton remains proactive in the market. We are the market leader and we are in tune with our seller's needs and doing everything in our power to meet their objectives.Native Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-75299276743948194002010-05-13T09:15:00.001-04:002010-05-13T09:17:58.274-04:00WHAT THE 2010 SENTIMENT STUDY SAID ABOUT THE FUTURE OF NORTH GEORGIAIf the future relies on the mood of its citizens, then North Georgia is in great shape. The general perception among North Georgians is optimism. Not just optimism, absurd optimism. Through the past couple years, this country has been ripped apart in the eyes of its citizens as well as the rest of the world, and yet North Georgians remain extremely confident that we will experience a comeback with relative ease and grace. This is a positive approach based on our positive culture and arises for one simple reason: optimism. This optimism will promote an exponential increase in local spending. <br /><br />Local spending. This is the key to keeping our optimism from being misplaced. Our local dollars, which we have made here, will be kept here, thus promoting increased business within our local economy. It is crazy enough to work! Our evenings away from “home” (local community) will occur less often. Keeping our residents in-town more often, spending their money in-town and ultimately generating an increase in business and personal wealth through this spirit of optimism which we all share. Beneath the words, comments, and charts of this year’s Sentiment Study lies the confidence that the majority of North Georgians believe exists. In fact, close to 82% of us believe growth will continue to occur in our region; after all that same 82% believes we have performed as well as or better than the rest of the nation during this trying time.<br /> <br />One thing that is evident among our residents, the North Georgians, is that we tend to stay in North Georgia (must be something in the water). Approximately 75% of our respondents have lived here for more than 10 years, with half of them having been here forever. Sustain our community, allow our community to grow in the way we all believe it is capable of, and I assure you that your optimism will not have just been a dream. Our local businesses will be stronger than in 2009, our region will continue to see growth, and we will perform the same as or better than the rest of the nation…this is the reality of focused optimism and action.<br /><br />North Georgians reported that their spending habits have permanently changed and that they will not revert back to previous habits. I believe this to be entirely untrue. This reminds me of the ole’ “go to” New Year’s resolution, “I am going to start working out and get into shape.” I’ve said it personally. The next thing you know, the big game is on so you’ll just skip a day, no big deal, what’s one day? Then, that slice of pizza just looks too good to resist, you can’t help diving right in, which tosses that day away, too. Sound familiar? Just like that, old habits and old routines come back to the forefront. What makes this different? Normal spending habits vary between person to person and family to family, but once the necessities are all paid for and taken care of, filling another basket of money will occur. I call it my wine fund. By no means will cutting off my wine fund for a period of time completely change my desire to have it exist. My wine fund can include vacations, new cars, electronics, wine, etc…everyone has a different name for it and no two are the same. I don’t see this personal enjoyment fund cease to exist just because of the scare we’ve had. North Georgians will be much smarter about how they go about preparing themselves for it, but don’t kid yourself, this hasn’t been permanently changed, just reprioritized, which will continue to take shape in the years ahead. <br /><br />Based on the survey, hiring, expansion and cut backs were not going to increase during the next year; however, production was projected to increase. Performing more with less will become the motto of several small businesses in our region. Once they catch back up, we will find that our respondents will begin to answer with an increase in hiring, expansion and production, while crossing the negative category of cutbacks off of our list. We are on our way; you said so. Almost 77% of the respondents have no intention of increasing their cutbacks in 2010. We will see this number continue to rise as North Georgia becomes the new business corridor connecting Atlanta to Greenville to Charlotte to Raleigh, ever-changing the pressing issues for our region. <br /><br />During our survey we asked a very general question: “what is the most pressing issue for North Georgia in 2010?” This allowed our respondents to freely write their point of view and explain the basis for their response. A general consensus was unveiled, that being jobs/employment. Even though today we see this as an issue, in the future of North Georgia this in fact will become a very bright point of light. With the growth expected (basically understood) in our region, the Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion (essentially Birmingham to Raleigh), businesses will find themselves moving away from the traffic of the larger cities into smaller, less populated areas while still having the capability to easily access I-85, 985, 365, and 400 corridors. These are the corridors of the future. These interstates connect Atlanta to the rest of our region and for that matter to the rest of the east coast. <br /><br />So what does our Sentiment Study say about the future of North Georgia…well, in the long term our growth is ultimately inevitable. Our optimistic point of view in our region and in our region’s economy is overwhelming and will encourage local spending, resulting in the resurgence of the economic engine of local businesses which increases local jobs which increases local spending, and the cycle will be restored. North Georgia business owners will continue to push and encourage their employees to perform at a different level than before but seeking more performance with less. North Georgia’s future is in the hands of North Georgia, we won’t see state and national governments coming to our rescue. Keep your head held high and your feet churning and the next thing you know, North Georgia will continue to show more growth in the state of Georgia than any other region and we will provide the next gateway to the expansion of Atlanta-based businesses. It is up to us, the North Georgians, and nobody else….Together we will make it happen.<br /><br />COPYRIGHT NORTON NATIVE INTELLIGENCE 2010<br /><br />www.nortoncommercial.comNative Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-12216319716916905802010-05-12T08:38:00.000-04:002010-05-12T08:40:32.028-04:00Housing collapse trickles downThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution <br /><br />By Christopher Quinn <br /><br />7:13 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2010 <br /><br />Christopher Norrell weighs the effects of the home-building crash in Cherokee and Forsyth counties by the bacon and eggs he hasn’t fried at his Cherokee Ranch Restaurant on Ga. 20. <br /><br />The highway once carried roofing crews, carpenters, construction foremen and lumber trucks to the new subdivisions spreading east and west from Canton and Cumming. Men with hammers and power saws would fuel up on Cherokee Ranch’s breakfasts or the meat-and-two-vegetable meals for $6.25 before heading to green fields and forests, where metro Atlanta’s exurban fringe was sprouting two-story houses. <br />For decades metropolitan Atlanta has pushed outward, creating a new community out of the clay and pine and then pushing farther outward to create another. And another. At one time that cycle seemed endless — Atlanta, marching inexorably toward Chattanooga. <br /><br />But the recession and its aftershocks have brought that march to a halt in suburbs such as Cherokee and Forsyth. Is this where sprawl has gone to die, or is this just a respite in the march? <br /><br />At Norrell’s restaurant, the crowds were steady when he left the drywall business and bought the eatery with his father three years ago. <br />“We thought we were going to do great,” said Norrell, whose father splits his time between the restaurant and the drywall jobs he is still able to get. “But we just don’t see the people coming in for breakfast or lunch anymore. ... It’s all we can do to survive right now.” <br /><br />This stark set of numbers tells the story. <br /><br />Cherokee County issued 2,021 new single-home permits in 2006, the year before the home-building industry began wobbling. In 2009, it issued 267. It has issued 63 this year through March 30. The county cut its building inspection staff from 17 to 10 and its engineering staff from 12 to six. <br /><br />Forsyth County issued 4,253 home permits in 2005. It issued 825 in 2009. So far this year it has issued 336. It also dismissed staff, reducing home inspectors from 23 to nine and its planning department staff from 67 to 35. <br /><br />That contrasts with the mid-1990s, when Cherokee and Forsyth made it annually onto the list of the nation’s fastest-growing counties by percentage of population. <br />Growth was the source of new wealth for everyone from local contractors and mom-and-pop businesses to high-dollar developers who honed their craft in Cobb and Gwinnett counties. Cherokee and Forsyth were also the battlegrounds where the slow-growth movement drew leaders as the displacement of pastures and rural towns with subdivisions and strip centers horrified some residents. Developers responded by creating smarter growth with green space or by building within the towns. Some of the best and worst of Atlanta’s boom years played out here. <br /><br />The difference between Cherokee and Forsyth and metro Atlanta’s core counties was that Cherokee and Forsyth did not have diverse economies. Home building had become the arch that supported the local economy. <br /><br />Frank Norton Jr., president of Gainesville’s Norton Agency, which tracks real estate and business in northeast Georgia, estimated that growth in Forsyth County generated 40 percent or more of business activity, when revenue streams are monitored. Cherokee likely has been less affected by the downturn because it has a hospital and a more established business base that has spread jobs around. Home building still remained a key growth area. Norton named companies and employees negatively affected by the home-building downturn. <br /><br />“There were sales of appliances, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies,” he said. “You had decorators, paint suppliers affected.” <br />Norton pointed to attorneys involved in closings, real estate agents, mortgage companies, pest-control companies, bank employees and companies renting out heavy equipment, all of whom have lost business. When not working, these people don’t spend in their communities, either. <br />“It has been devastating,” Norton said. <br />Family-run businesses, from people hanging Sheetrock to painters, have made severe, even personal, cuts. <br />“I know people who have laid off their children,” he said. <br />Despite the severe drops, the two counties were still leaders in new homes built in metro Atlanta. Forsyth built the most new homes in 2009 thanks to cheaper land and taxes and good schools, according to Steve Palm, president of Marietta-based Smart Numbers. Fulton, with most homes built in the south part of the county, was second in new homes, followed by Gwinnett, Cherokee and Cobb. <br />Norton said Forsyth even has a couple of hot spots, where new houses continue to go up in numbers. <br />“I think we will see some growth in the next two years,” he said. “But it will be some time before we ever get back to 2005 and 2006 numbers.” <br />County employment numbers by trade were not available, but metro Atlanta construction jobs plummeted from 127,100 in 2005 to 89,200 last February, according to the state Department of Labor. That number does not include specialty trade contractors, such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters. From February 2009 to February 2010, the drop was from 71,000 to 56,400. Membership in the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association also fell sharply, going from 4,100 in 2006 to 1,300. <br />Until 16 months ago, Phil Burruss of Burruss Cabinet Shop near Cumming employed 10 men. Burruss now is a one-man operation. He once had work lined up six months in advance. Not anymore. <br />“Now my phone doesn’t ring,” Burruss said. “That has been the hardest thing to get used to. The telemarketers don’t even call.” <br />Kim Bates, one of the owners of Bates Building Materials between Canton and Cumming, estimated his business was down 60 percent to 65 percent. He had 22 employees in the boom years. Now he has 10. <br />“The truth of the matter is we could make it on less than that, but we have guys that have worked with us a long time,” Bates said. “They have families that depend on us.” <br />Don Sackman, former Cherokee Country chapter president of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, once built 20 to 25 homes yearly worth $500,000 to $1 million each in north metro Atlanta suburbs. <br />“Now I am building decks and doing any odd job I can find,” said Sackman, 59. <br />Sackman hasn’t given up on home building. Every three months, he has checked on lot prices and run the numbers: It comes down to how much money could be made if he and his sons bought a single lot and did all the work themselves. Sackman just wanted to make regular wages out of the deal. It wasn’t possible. Even with lots at bargain prices, no financing and minimum subcontractors, he still couldn’t build a house and sell it to earn a worthwhile hourly wage. There were too many foreclosures selling below cost and he couldn’t compete with that. <br />There are men who have worked a lifetime in construction trades and sit at home idle, drawing unemployment or Social Security or trying to patch together a living similar to Sackman’s in remodeling, he said. Yet there are more eager workers than remodeling jobs. <br />“I don’t have anything at all to do this week,” Sackman said. “I am thinking about going fishing. At least that way I can put some food on the table.” <br /><br />Cherokee County <br /><br />Population in 2000: 141,903; in 2009: 210,529 <br />Homes in 2000: 51,937; in 2009: 80,742 <br />Median household income in 2008: $68,627; in Georgia: $50,834 <br />● 65 percent of workers travel outside the county to work <br />● 37,871 students in 2009 <br />● Average 2008 SAT scores of 1,578 (Ga. average 1,466, national average 1,511) <br /><br />Forsyth County <br /><br />Population in 2000: 98,407; in 2009: 174,520 <br />Homes in 2000: 16,781; in 2009: 32,682 <br />Median household income in 2008: $88,626; in Georgia: $50,834 <br />● 32,514 students in 2009 <br />● Average 2008 SAT score 1,550 (Ga. average 1,466, national average 1,511) <br />Sources: Atlanta Regional Commission, U.S. Census, school districtsNative Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-83636478174146786342010-01-25T22:39:00.002-05:002010-01-25T22:42:52.105-05:00Norton: We can rebuild it<h1 style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">By <a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/access/user.php?id=87&c=8">Jerry Gunn</a> <i>Staff</i></span></h1><h1 style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">GAINESVILLE - Norton Agency president Frank Norton Thursday night saved his most positive trend for last during his Ten Top Trends forecast as part of Native Intelligence 2010 at the Georgia Mountains Center.<br /><br />This year’s Ten Top Trends did not ignore the facts. The recession has been tough on the economy and on real estate, but Norton wrapped up his annual economic forecast by telling his audience "we can rebuild it," comparing the economy to the Six Million Dollar Man.<br /><br />“I firmly believe that the strength of the human spirit in Northeast Georgia can rebuild the wealth and the affluence of Northeast Georgia without relying on Washington,” Norton said.<br /><br />Norton told his audience to look for opportunities in what he called the 'good, the bad, and the ugly' economy.<br /><br />“There's the opportunity of going after the ‘silver dollar’, the aging market, we’re not really as a community focused in on those kinds of opportunities,” Norton said.<br /><br />Norton also pointed to lower price points in the housing market and investing in business rental property for companies that want to rent instead of own.<br />Norton concluded by saying Northeast Georgia has 'bright points of light' that will attract new people and opportunities.</span></h1><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=226419">TO READ MORE</a>Native Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-45138557648240738152010-01-23T16:29:00.004-05:002010-01-25T22:42:24.352-05:00Norton Native Intelligence Forcast 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXJB0Xann_wMeKkoLRau4kFd62Dvz-BCT7hkn97AZjTElC1LlCTqx2lu-CWR5WWF1GPiTcEmI7gMeb6BtOMp_HgnOzXBHz9VayyRVNfggwXBKJA0oFxpqmsrepA1xs5an5NDZC3Xblt2E/s1600-h/compressed+photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXJB0Xann_wMeKkoLRau4kFd62Dvz-BCT7hkn97AZjTElC1LlCTqx2lu-CWR5WWF1GPiTcEmI7gMeb6BtOMp_HgnOzXBHz9VayyRVNfggwXBKJA0oFxpqmsrepA1xs5an5NDZC3Xblt2E/s400/compressed+photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430051526401129442" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Click <a href="http://www.nortoncommercial.com/reports-forecasts.html">here</a> to Download the 2010 Forecast</span><br /></div>Native Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-14281390661315686302009-12-16T09:46:00.000-05:002009-12-16T09:49:47.976-05:00Did you know?<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/51EGBqZaAgk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/51EGBqZaAgk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Native Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-87423343601066764902009-07-30T17:43:00.002-04:002009-07-30T17:46:12.575-04:00Hall's home prices stabilizing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IKOyBoQPb5Dua6zhys-4dS72butrhv8SsBLbWXo1Lp-przk2yKjqoAuN19kO2vyDN7Elv3cvPWn6GwliL3fDKkrgTzc-hV2jLO303aLXcUVA8NMhWjfd_OxE0xUHqAdTdQqnQRLw-60C/s1600-h/iStock_000000509514Small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IKOyBoQPb5Dua6zhys-4dS72butrhv8SsBLbWXo1Lp-przk2yKjqoAuN19kO2vyDN7Elv3cvPWn6GwliL3fDKkrgTzc-hV2jLO303aLXcUVA8NMhWjfd_OxE0xUHqAdTdQqnQRLw-60C/s400/iStock_000000509514Small.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364372578197439090" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><div id="article_header" style="font: normal normal normal 18pt/normal Georgia, Times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background- margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-position: initial initial; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;color:white;"><span lang="EN" style=" font: normal normal normal 12pt/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN" style=" font: normal normal normal 12pt/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Area lagging behind national trend of rising costs</span></span><span lang="EN" style=" font: normal normal normal 12pt/normal Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><strong><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">By Ashley Fielding</span></span></strong><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><a href="mailto:afielding@gainesvilletimes.com" style=" text-decoration: none; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt;color:blue;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">afielding@gainesvilletimes.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></p></span></span></div></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;"><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While a national report shows that home prices across the country rose in May, Hall County may be lagging behind, according to Frank Norton Jr., president of The Norton Agency.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">U.S. home prices rose in May on a month-to-month basis for the first time since July 2006, according to the national Case-Shiller home price index released Tuesday.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 major cities rose 0.5 percent from April, but was still 17.1 percent below May a year ago. Thirteen cities, including Atlanta, showed monthly increases in home prices.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hall County’s home prices, on the other hand, have not risen with the markets in those major urban areas, according to Norton, whose company tracks home prices and sales in the county.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“We are lagging a little bit behind,” Norton said.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Norton does offer positive news, however, that the county’s recession-eroded home prices have not declined in a couple of months and are beginning to stabilize.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“I think we will see home prices stabilize through the rest of this year, except there will be isolated sales that will just blow everybody away because of the super-stressed nature of the owner,” Norton said. “But home prices look like they have leveled off or are leveling off.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Other positive news Norton offers is that the county’s foreclosure listings were down in July compared to June. More than 300 foreclosure filings were listed in The Times in June; filings dropped to 215 in July, he said.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The recent statistics tell Jeffrey Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia, that some aspects of the housing market have hit their lowest. He said the housing market is stable, but at a very depressed level.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“I don’t think it’s really recovering,” Humphreys said. “I think it’s bouncing along the bottom, but we have reached a bottom in terms of housing sales and in terms of housing starts.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Humphreys is hesitant to say that home prices have hit bottom. He does predict, however, that the major drops in home values are in the past.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“I think it may be premature, though, to assume that we’ve reached a bottom in terms of home prices,” Humphreys said. “(The Standard & Poors/ Case-Shiller) report kind of suggests that maybe we have, but I actually expect prices to drift lower through the end of the year.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While stability is within reach, recovery may be further in the future. Humphreys said he believes Georgia’s home sales will recover with the rest of the country.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But due to the large supply of homes in Georgia, Humphreys said he believes new construction could take longer to bounce back in Georgia than the rest of the nation.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">New construction on homes may not begin again until 2012, but in 2010 it could begin again in certain elementary school districts, Norton said.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Compared to last year, the Norton Agency’s home sales are up by about 15 percent, Norton said. About 50 percent of those sales are foreclosures, short sales or what Norton calls stressed sellers — sellers who have had their homes on the market for long periods of time and are willing to sell for less.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="EN" style=" ;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“There are some terrific buys in the marketplace and the higher the price house seems to be the more discount,” Norton said.</span></span></p></span></div>Native Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-48327039789466605122009-07-24T14:19:00.004-04:002009-07-24T14:36:32.452-04:00Water Water Everywhere And Not A Drop To Drink<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tLHVDK8ADlMLCNv5JJcdkI-ZJyqknOD4GGItkcHCPRrs4-LjAu96b12NvXYCGDq4ZuABKnpVO_JRYw0wUgddj1fzYV_Zt9VB2pY0182_71CQccyQZDyGr5GEjBIW-5bDBveh31D14SdU/s1600-h/iStock_000000673518Medium.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tLHVDK8ADlMLCNv5JJcdkI-ZJyqknOD4GGItkcHCPRrs4-LjAu96b12NvXYCGDq4ZuABKnpVO_JRYw0wUgddj1fzYV_Zt9VB2pY0182_71CQccyQZDyGr5GEjBIW-5bDBveh31D14SdU/s400/iStock_000000673518Medium.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362096204256687746" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">22 years of legal and political posturing by successive </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">G</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">overnors, t</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">he Corp</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">s</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Engineers</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and various state agencies</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">we</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">,</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">GEORGIA</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">,</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">UP</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and</span></span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> LOST</span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the last <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">round of the </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">water war.</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“ </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This time</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">,</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> in a sweeping judicial de</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">cision, our fate is sealed in <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">3 </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">years </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">(up a dry creek with</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">out a paddle) </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">without congressional action.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For 22 years our Norton Native Intelligence</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">™</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">F</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">orecasts have cried for water <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">solutions, long </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">-</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">range water planning, conservation and </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">“</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">real world</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">” </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">water business <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">practices for </span></span></span><span style=""><u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">the capture, storage and distribution of water</span></span></u></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">….</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The states</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> have</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> been <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">acting</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> like three little </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">ki</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">ds fighting over toys</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> in a sandbox</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">….</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> Without water</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">,</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Atlanta</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> will <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">become a concrete desert. Without water</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">,</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">G</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">eorgia</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">’s</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">food processing businesses will <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">evaporate and the </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">general</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> public will become parched toast.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Since the ruling I’ve heard lots of folks bellyaching and moaning but no one really putting forth any concrete ideas. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure I want to put my destiny in the hands of <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">4</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">3</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">5 </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">congressmen who have a hard time deciding about anything. It’s </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">not </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Georgia</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">’s <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">13 </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">that</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> I’m </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">worried about…</span></span></span><span style=""><u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">it’s the other unpredictable 422.</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My grandmother always said…. "It is what it is….now, whatch</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">’</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">going to do about it?” When down and out, I’ve always found <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">a well thought out game plan</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> helped clear the walk through the fog and smoke.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>1.</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If we can only use </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lake</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lanier</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for flood and navigation</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">,</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> then shut the flood <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">gates of Buford Dam and release water for those</span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> 2 purposes</span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> – </span></span></span><span style=""><u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The mussels will have to learn to survive.</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Result – the lake will remain full.</span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>2.</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Start accurately documenting </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">barge traffic along the waterways. It would <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">be interesting to see if barges are the </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">1</span></span></span><span style="vertical-align: super; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">st</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> century</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">equivalent of the “horse and buggy” <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">and have been replaced by container truck traffic on our </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">nterstate</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> highways</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Result – an accurate cost vs. benefit study on the transportation aspect <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">of </span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lake</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lanier</span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> releases</span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">.</span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>3. </span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If </span></span></span></span><span style=""><u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">we</span></span></span></u></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> have </span></span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">NO</span></span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">water withdrawals fro</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">m</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lake</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lanier</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">unless Congress <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">approves them</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> (except Gainesville & Cumming)</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, then the same should apply to the <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">entire </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Flint</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, Chattahoochee, </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Apalachicola</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> basin…</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> No water may be <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">removed from any river, nor the 13 lakes in the chain</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, nor</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> feeding</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> tributary</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">….</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> by any <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">state, county or municipality </span></span></span><span style=""><u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">without the same approval by Congress</span></span></u></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Result – what’s fair is fair.</span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>4. </span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Immediately request </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Federal S</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">timulus </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">F</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">unds to remove 51 years of silt from <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lanier…</span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">dig it deeper</span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> increasing its storage capacity. It’s a “shovel ready" project, <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">T</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">oday </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">thousands of</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> graders are out of work and </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">best of all, we don’t have to wait 10 <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">to 20 </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">years to go through government</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">al</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> red tape </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">– </span></span></span><span style=""><u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">it’s already EPA approved</span></span></u></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Result – more storage means more wate</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">r</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for everyone</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>5.</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">While we’re asking Mama Congress for permission for a glass of water or two, <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">ask them to raise the level of </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lake </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lanier </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2 ft.(that’s 85,000 acre feet of additional water <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">storage</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">..a bunch!</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">) and earmark that part </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">exclusively </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">for </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Georgia</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> consumption.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Result – all the water we will ever hope to drink.</span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>6.</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hall</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">County</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> as a measure of safety (sometimes plans don’t always work) needs <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">to immediately build </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">a water plant</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">a </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">distribution connect</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">ion</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">i</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">nto </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">our </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">existing </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">East <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Hall </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">R</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">eservoir and accelerate </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">the </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">construction of the Glade Farm</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> R</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">eservoir.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Result – it’s always good to have a </span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">P</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">lan B</span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>#7. </span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Support a temporary 1 cent statewide sales tax to build rese</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">r</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">voirs and pipeline <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">distribution </span></span></span><span style=""><u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">throughout</span></span></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Georgia</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. That’s </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">new </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">lakes in </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">the </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Georgia</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> </span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">National Forests</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">tapping </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">the </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">South Georgia </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Aquifer</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">creating a </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">system of deep water wells and </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">building <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">desalination plants along </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Georgia</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">’s coast.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Result – everyone benefits from a diversification of our water resources.</span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>#8.</span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Appoint a </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">T</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ri-</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">S</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tate water </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">C</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">zar and relinquish </span></span></span></span><span style=""><u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">all</span></span></span></u></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> state</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">s</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">’</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (3) political </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">control over <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style=""><u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">all </span></span></u></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">water </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">S</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">torage, Distribution and </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">W</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">ithdrawal. Charge this </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Czar</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> with </span></span></span><span style=""><u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">sound long range <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">balance</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">d</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> non political water planning for all </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">T</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">hree </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">S</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">tates ….. </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">you </span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">might</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> even</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> include <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Tennessee</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> for a fourth. And start planning for regional growth - 2050 is just around the corner.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Result – it just makes too much sense</span></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Two Thirds of Lake Lanier</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in Hall County</span></span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and 100% of it is inside Georgia and we <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">can only withdraw (</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Gainesville</span></span></span><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and Cumming) some 13 million gallons of water per day vs. estimated needs of 45 million. As ridiculous, absurd, and outlandish as the ruling <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">might appear, it’s time we control our own destiny. </span></span></span><span style=""><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">RIGHT NOW!</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><b><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:18px;"><br /></span></div></span></div>Native Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-14211886608721045082009-07-21T23:47:00.004-04:002009-07-21T23:52:32.151-04:00"Census results show Hall is steadily growing"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAv83Sm1Ob2hZXmBbADGDxDfUCgVJEG_XOAj5vW2jseg_eDWH0H2Y-sjHYWjeuY7YieMXl_hoeikl_3iVTJhfLGe3DlhRlyEvNE415VlmUE8a8_xttgNBgBOnkhoZx8d-x35pWjNf5p2p/s1600-h/0514census.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAv83Sm1Ob2hZXmBbADGDxDfUCgVJEG_XOAj5vW2jseg_eDWH0H2Y-sjHYWjeuY7YieMXl_hoeikl_3iVTJhfLGe3DlhRlyEvNE415VlmUE8a8_xttgNBgBOnkhoZx8d-x35pWjNf5p2p/s400/0514census.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361127150186057522" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><div><br /></div>"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Against a quieter chorus of hammers, people have continued to pour into Hall County.</span></span><p align="left"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">In population estimates released today, the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Hall grew by 33 percent between 2000 and July 1, 2008, marking it as the nation’s 85th fastest-growing county.</span></span></span></p><p align="left"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Hall housed 184,814 people in 2008, up from 178,620 in 2007, a 3.5 percent increase. The county grew 4.2 percent from 2006, when it had 171,444, according to the census numbers.</span></span></span></p><p align="left"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">"I am not surprised by these numbers," said Frank Norton, a real estate executive who monitors growth and economic trends. "They continue to (be) a little lower than our internal projections. We think the county is somewhere between 195,000 and 200,000 people."</span></span></span></p><p align="left"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">He added, "The Census is still playing a little bit of catch-up with the undercount we had in 2000, when they counted about 26,000 Hispanics. The (actual) number is substantially higher than that."</span></span></span></p><p align="left"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Also, "we still have some degree of housing permits happening — many of those in South Hall and many of those are residents moving in (from outside Hall) instead of across the county.'"</span></span></span></p><p align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'courier new';font-size:18px;"><br /></span></p><p align="left"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><a href="http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/archive/18795/">For more of the article </a></span></span></span></p></span>Native Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-74967494879351704092009-06-08T11:26:00.003-04:002009-06-08T11:31:12.619-04:00Norton Native Intelligence<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Norton Native Intelligence is dedicated to providing a stream of real time data and associated interpretations on the North Georgia, Metro Atlanta and State of Georgia markets. Norton Native Intelligence has collected and analyzed data in these regions since 1986 and maintains the REGION'S most comprehensive real estate, demographic and economic data base. Norton Native Intelligence annual market reports may be found at </span><a href="www.nortoncommercial.com/intelligence.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">www.nortoncommercial.com/intelligence.html </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. <br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We also publish a free e-mail newsletter Norton Market Watch which covers significant community and regional economic, demographic and real estate events. To subscribe: </span><a href="mailto:update@nortonnorthga.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">update@nortonnorthga.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> <br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Annually, in January, Norton Native Intelligence holds a Forecast presentation on the region's top 10 trends (demographic, business, social) for the upcoming year. To receive an invitation e-mail: </span><a href="mailto:update@nortonnorthga.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">update@nortonnorthga.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.<br /><br />Click here to view the Forecast for 2009. <</span><a href="http://www.nortonnorthga.com/DSN/wwwnortonnorthgacom/content/forecastshort2.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.nortonnorthga.com/DSN/wwwnortonnorthgacom/content/forecastshort2.pdf</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">> <br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This new blog is an effort to turn up the burner for Georgia real estate communication and accelerate the dissemination and responses on the various research products published and released by Norton Native Intelligence. Enjoy, participate and learn. <br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Norton.......The Power to Perform</span>.<br /><br /><br />FRANK K. NORTON JR<br /><a href="mailto:FKNJR@NORTONNORTHGA.COM">FKNJR@NORTONNORTHGA.COM</a><br /><br />434 GREEN STREET<br />GAINESVILLE GA. 30501<br />OFF 770 7185252<br />CELL 770 5034618<br /><br />CHECK OUT OUR GREAT LISTING INVENTORY<br />WWW.THENORTONAGENCY.COM <<a href="http://www.thenortonagency.com/">http://www.thenortonagency.com/</a>> <br /><br /></span>Native Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5175039154250863486.post-11429773925997651432009-05-18T22:29:00.002-04:002009-06-08T11:35:16.844-04:00Native Intelligencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07529568332575976787noreply@blogger.com