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Builders learn of new wind standards
Biz mr builders
Diagram shows counties and their wind-rating guidelines for new construction that takes effect July 1. - photo by Graphics provided
The Long County Code Enforcement Office hosted a class Wednesday regarding new requirements for builders that take effect July 1.
The Georgia Department of Consumer Affairs provided the training, and the instructor was Gregori Anderson of the Department of Building Safety and Regulatory Services.
The major topics were new requirements for upgrading one- and two-family dwellings to make them more resistant to high winds.
The new guidelines will require coastal counties, such as Chatham, McIntosh, Glynn, and about 50 percent of Liberty County, to build new homes with a design criteria for winds of up to 110 mph.  
For counties including Long, Wayne, Brantley, and the other half of Liberty, the requirement will now be up to 100 mph.
Some of the specific areas covered were interior and exterior footings, stem-wall foundations, floor bracing at end walls and balloon framing.
“It was an excellent class, and from a safety aspect it is definitely the way to go,” homebuilder Joe Raymer of RMR Associates said.
Leonard Poole of Poole’s Framing noted, “It was a great class and it covered a lot we need to know. Everyone needs to be doing this to protect themselves.”
Contractors came from all over the area, and according to Code Clerk Michelle Poppell, 34 people were in attendance.
Some of the areas represented included Hinesville, Jesup, Statesboro and Glenville.
According to Anderson, several of the contractors stated they were already building to the new specifications, and a few others said they were familiar with them.
“This was a good turnout, and there was a lot of good questions and the feedback was only positive,” Anderson said.
Code Enforcement Officer John Bradley cooked a barbecue lunch for all present, and also had coffee and donuts available.
“I think it turned out great. There was a lot of input from the class, and now everyone will be on the same sheet of music, with these changes,” Bradley said.
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GPA grows trade, market share
Intermodal volume up 20 percent
port photo
Rubber tired gantry cranes handle cargo at the Chatham Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at the Port of Savannah. The Georgia Ports Authority's Mason Mega Rail project will double rail lift capacity to 1 million containers per year by 2020 - photo by Provided

The Georgia Ports Authority achieved 14 percent growth in March container volumes, moving 355,208 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers.

From July 2017 to March, TEU container trade grew by 9 percent, or 255,786 additional units for a total of 3.08 million, a new record for Savannah.

"Savannah's continued strength is a reflection of our customers' commitment, Georgia's leadership, and the many dedicated service providers, GPA employees and ILA members who come together every day to achieve great things," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "March marked our 17th consecutive month of business expansion thanks, in part, to a strong economy and growing market share."

Intermodal rail volumes jumped by 20 percent in March and 15.4 percent for the fiscal year to date, for a total of 318,454 containers handled over nine months – another record for the GPA.

"As the numbers show, our rail cargo is growing at a faster pace than our overall trade," GPA Chairman Jimmy Allgood said. "This is important because rail is playing a key role in our responsible growth strategy. We anticipate our rail infrastructure investments to take 250,000 trucks off the road each year by 2020."

The GPA recently broke ground on its Mason Mega Rail Terminal, on which the Port of Savannah will build 10,000-foot unit trains within its own footprint. From the expanded rail infrastructure at Garden City Terminal, Class I rail providers CSX and Norfolk Southern will provide direct rail service to major Southeast and Midwestern markets from Memphis to St. Louis, Chicago to Cincinnati.

An added benefit is that the Mason Mega Rail project will move all rail switching on terminal – improving vehicle traffic flow around the port.

In August, the GPA will open its Appalachian Regional Port in Murray County. Located in an industrial belt, including the production and export of carpet and flooring, automobiles and tires, the ARP will provide an alternative to all-truck transit to Northwest Georgia.

Each round-trip container moved via the Appalachian Regional Port will offset 710 truck miles on Georgia highways.

March was also a strong month for roll-on/roll-off auto and machinery units at the Port of Brunswick and Ocean Terminal in Savannah. Colonel's Island Terminal in Brunswick handled 66,144 cars, trucks and tractors, while Ocean Terminal added 4,050, for a total 70,194, a 17.2 percent increase.

"The global economy is thriving and our volumes are following suit," Lynch said. "As existing accounts grow their footprint in the expanding auto facility in Brunswick, Georgia's competitive logistical advantages are drawing additional business across all of our docks."

Lynch noted that for the fiscal year to date, Mayor's Point breakbulk terminal in Brunswick grew by 44 percent (34,515 tons) to reach 112,728 tons of forest products. At East River Terminal, bulk cargo expanded by 34 percent July-March (189,918 tons) for a total of 750,384 tons.

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