Off- Shore Drilling to Benefit Bird Key...

Governor Jeb Bush and Florida legislators have created an oil rich bonanza for Bird Key and Lido Key residents by granting oil leases in Sarasota Bay between the two keys and between Bird Key and the mainland. Oil companies quickly seized on the opportunity and quickly bid $9.23 billion for the leases. Drilling will start as early as next week.

Both Exxon-Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell, owners of the new leases, have pledged to use new "low profile" rigs on the sites which will initially be in four locations: about 200 feet off Robin Drive waterfront, off the Meadow Lark Drive and Mourning Dove Drive waterfronts, and on the flats off South Owl-South Spoonbill Drive

BKIA has claimed jurisdiction over the lease areas and expects to collect over $9 million in permit fees. BKIA wants to ensure that rigs are aesthetically pleasing to residents. One recommendation is that the rigs have the appearance of a cluster of Norfolk Pines. A new Offshore Landscaping Committee was created to attend to these matters.

As part of the negotiation package, BKIA is negotiating for free oil company credit cards for Exxon, Mobil and Shell stations from the drilling companies for all residents (one card per lot). This will in some small measure compensate residents for the expected turmoil as the rigs are installed and operated.