FOLEY, Ala. — The city of Foley has finally come to terms with BP Oil for its responsibility in the 2010 oil spill in Gulf Coast waters.

Following a 45-minute executive session during its regular meeting Monday, the Foley City Council voted to accept a settlement with the oil company for $875,000.

“We think it’s a good thing for the city of Foley,” Foley Mayor John Koniar said in an interview following the meeting.

According to Foley City Administrator Michael Thompson, the spill’s impact on each Baldwin County community varied.

“Sales tax was our biggest issue,” he said of Foley’s financial losses following the accident. “Orange Beach and Gulf Shores lost lodging revenue.”

Thompson explained that like Foley, each of those impacted communities is working on its own settlement with BP.

Now that Foley’s settlement has been approved, Koniar said he expected the paperwork to be completed this week and the funds to be received in approximately two weeks. Once the funding has been secured, he added, caution will be used in its spending.

“In the short term, we’re going to be conservative with those funds,” the mayor said. “In the long term, we’ll evaluate how we can best use them.”

Also Monday, the Foley City Council:

• Approved Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation’s request to use the Horse Arena free of charge on July 12 for the Rodeo Queen Horsemanship Competition with a rain date of July 19 and for the Rodeo Week, July 30-Aug. 5, and to look into acquiring better seating for the event. District 5 Rep. Charles J. Ebert III abstained.
• Upon second reading, approved an ordinance to establish a B-3 Zoning (local business district) for approximately 30 acres on the east side of Foley Beach Express and south of U.S. Highway 98. The request was made by Jeff A. Miller, Dennis L. and Lynda D. Crosby and Erick L. and Kelly M. Crosby.
• Upon second reading, approved an ordinance to establish an R-1A Zoning (residential single family), B-2 Zoning (neighborhood business district) and A-O Zoning (agriculture open space for approximately 30 acres, which includes various properties in and around Fairmont subdivision annexed by legislative act and located on the south side of County Road 10 and west of State Road 59.
• Proclaimed April Paint the Town Purple Month in honor of the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life fundraiser.