BP settles with Sanibel and the Lee County School District

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SANIBEL, Fla.- WINK News confirms Sanibel will get hundreds of thousands of dollars from BP.

The 2010 spill sent oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico. While no oil washed up in Southwest Florida, confusion caused tourists to stay away. Now, BP’s paying up.

WINK News found out BP will pay the City of Sanibel a little more than $460,000.

“I’m thrilled with the decision. Honestly, I am thrilled Sanibel was fortunate enough to put together a claim, act upon it, look at our losses,” said Mayor Kevin Ruane.

Sanibel says tourism was affected after the 2010 oil spill at the Deepwater Horizon Drilling Platform.

The mayor says visitors didn’t know most of the damage was in Florida’s Panhandle and the oil never made it to Southwest Florida.

“They were foreign tourists they weren’t aware of the extent the BP spill was and how far it impacted,” said Ruane.

Ruane says they have not yet decided how they will use the money, but they will use it the best way they can for taxpayers.

“Businesses are responsible for their own claim for whatever they think directly affects them,” said Ruane.

The Lee County School Board voted unanimously to approve a $2.5 million settlement from BP. They said they lost tax revenue from the drop in tourism. The Lee County Commission will hold a special meeting Wednesday to approve their BP settlement.

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