Following Hurricane Dennis, the city’s sewage lift station on McAbee Court malfunctioned, causing wastewater to back up into The Villas retirement community. After years of negotiations, the Gulf Breeze City Council this week approved settlement of a lawsuit filed over the damages incurred.

According to documents, the City will pay $70,000 in damages to The Villas for its losses. The Villas agreed to pay $3,000 towards the city’s installation of backflow preventers, and it released the city of all other claims or damages.

The Florida League of Cities is the city’s insurance carrier and will pay the $70,000 claim.

“We reached this settlement with the City of Gulf Breeze in good faith,” said Belie Williams, The Villas administrator. “After five years of negotiating, we have agreed to the new system the city is installing, and we are hopeful that it will be effective.”

The system has previously malfunctioned two times.

– Vici Papajohn