Search
Close this search box.

The 9 ‘Waterway Rental Safety Committee’ members have been chosen. Here’s who they are

Since January, the County has only received three applications for these positions. Of the three applications received, one was directly appointed as a County Commission appointee.

At the January 19, 2021 Board meeting, the County Commission proposed the creation of a committee to assist the County in the creation of an ordinance and other measures related to marine livery safety, specifically as it relates to personal watercraft (jet skis) rentals, but also potentially pontoon boats rentals and other rental vessel/water related safety issues.

The Board decided that the ‘Waterway Rental Safety Committee’ would be structured as follows:

  • 2 Industry representatives
  • 5 appointed citizens from each County Commissioner
  • 1 representative from City of Destin (council appointed)
  • 1 representative from City of Fort Walton Beach (council appointed)

Background: Throughout last past summer there were a series of on-water accidents involving jet ski and pontoon boat rentals that have resulted in severe injuries and at least 1 death.

Outside of those formally recorded incidents, there have been many other reports of rentals demonstrating:

  • Excessive speeds in confined areas
  • Reckless boating
  • Minimal operational experience
  • No knowledge of local hazards/zones
  • And an overall lack of boater courtesy

“These types of issues have been discussed several times before the Board in late 2020 and earlier this year,” wrote County Administrator Craig Coffey. “There are a variety of measures that may be able to be implemented to curb some of the ill effects of these rentals. It is hoped that the Committee can develop recommendations for potential implementation for the 2022 tourism season.”

The County Attorney has drafted a detailed memo on the legal issues surrounding any regulation of these types of businesses/activities.

According to the memo, this Committee is not expected to deal with:

  • Crab Island vendor issues
  • Passenger related vendors such as sunset/dolphin cruises, snorkel trips, tiki huts, and fishing boats
  • And similar vendors where the vessels are not otherwise being leased and operated by the customer without the vendor present.

Since January, the County has only received three applications for these positions. Of the three applications received, one was directly appointed as a County Commission appointee.

The Industry individuals appointed to the two positions are John Duplantis of Boogies Watersports and John Stephens III, of Luther’s Pontoon, Waverunner & Kayak Rentals.

The other members are as follows:

  • John Holguin Chief of Ops Tax Collector – District 1 Paul Mixon
  • Kenneth Wright Real Estate – District 2 Carolyn Ketchel
  • Matt Turpin, CPA – District 3 Nathan Boyles
  • Robert Dunkerson, World Impact Real Estate – District 4 Trey Goodwin
  • Maya Schilder, Xtreme H20 sports – District 5 Mel Ponder
  • Bobby Nabors (Restaurant/Retail/Real estate) – Fort Walton Beach
  • Teresa Hebert, Destin City Council – Destin

Join the conversation...

Continue reading 👇

Community Comments

“Very glad to see this project going through,we don’t live here but we brought our bikes here from misssouri and drove over to 30A to ride”
Respond
“I suggest revising this statement: "doubling the number of travel lanes from the current four to six" since doubling four does not yield six.”
Respond
“No there was never one here.”
Respond
“Sad that I know him and had no idea!”
Respond
“One of the most important issue regarding this matter is: was this x-con provided with an opportunity to learn a trade while locked up for 327 months or was he...”
Respond
“Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I seriously question the integrity of the yellow media and low-intelligence commenters for spewing such damagaing rhetoric before this case has even been...”
Respond
“I take it that he only did half of 27 years which is 13 1/2 years .He apparently missed his inmate friends. What made him think he could get away...”
Respond
“How can we get this started at Bluewater ? yeah Mrs Crist , still loving and making a difference in children’s lives .”
Respond
“This is such an awesome idea! Ms. Crist was my daughter Valerie's 2nd grade teacher when Valerie attended Bluewater Elementary School! Ms. Crist was born to teach!! Nellie Bogar, Youth...”
Respond
“I have been in the charter industry for nearly 20yrs, I own a successful mulit-boat fishing company, I teach the FISHING CLASS at Destin Highschool and I am also the...”
Respond