COLDWATER (WTVB) - Branch County continued to enjoy increased building activity this spring. The County’s Building Inspection Department reports that permits for last month exceeded the permit numbers for June in each of the previous two years.  May was especially busy this year with 129 permits issued, compared to 72 in May of 2011, a 79% increase. There are two new homes on the building list and they are currently approximately 20 days out in the office. Although the number of permits wasn’t as high in the beginning of this year, the percentage increase was still significant in relation to 2011 with a 60% hike in January and 139% in February.