Beeville Rotary Club guest speakers for the month of October included Michelle Wright, Main Street Program director, who discussed goals, projects and events including the promotion of new and expanding businesses, developing a customer data base, developing downtown eye appeal, funding Main Street, Farmers Market and enlisting volunteers for projects and events.

Dennis DeWitt, director of Bee County Community Affairs, presented to the group flood plains of Bee County, the base flood elevation, development permits, flood prevention and the importance of flood plain management.

State Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, who represents Bee, Goliad, Jim Wells, Karnes, Live Oak and McMullen counties, provided information on the election of the Texas constitutional amendments for the Nov. 3 election. She explained to the Rotarians that residential property in some areas was being appraised as commercial because a residence was adjacent to commercial property. Also, taxation for a homestead can be based solely as a residence homestead through a constitutional amendment. Lastly, the power of eminent domain under law could be granted to eliminate urban blight but not for economic development or enhancement of tax revenue and to limit the Legislature’s authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity.

Visitors at the meetings were Juliet Manua, exchange student from France, Viola Salazar of Beeville Housing Authority and Morgan McKinney, Miss Western Week.

Rotary International Club of Beeville meets at noon on Wednesdays at the Beeville Country Club.

Anyone interested in more information about Rotary should contact Jack Seals at 358-1043.