Item K4BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: Wed. June 11, 2014
Bulk Item: Yes No XX
Division: BOCC
Department: Comm. David Rice
Staff Contact /Phone #: Tamara Lamarche
PH: 305 289-6000
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval of a Resolution to recognize the heroism and bravery of two
young men in the water rescue of the occupants of a small plane, bayside of Marathon.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The evening of March 29, 2014; a small plane crashed into the bayside waters
of Marathon in the gusty winds of an approaching cold front. Two young Marathon residents out
fishing in their boat, John Callion and James Platt, saw the plane come down and went to the aid of
the occupants.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST: COST: BUDGETED: Yes No
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE:
COST TO COUNTY: SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty XX OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included XX Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 7/09
Commissioner David Rice
RESOLUTION NO. - 2014
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
IN RECOGNITION OF THE BRAVERY AND HEROISM OF
JOHN CALLION AND JAMES PLATT, TWO YOUNG
MARATHON RESIDENTS, IN THE RECENT SMALL PLANE
CRASH ON THE BAYSIDE OF MARATHON, FLORIDA.
WHEREAS, on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at approximately 8:45 P.M., two young Marathon
residents, while out fishing in a small boat, witnessed a small plane crash into the bay, approximately a
mile offshore of Marathon, as a severe cold front with strong winds was just hitting the Middle Keys; and
WHEREAS, when called to report the crash, the Coast Guard advised them to get back to shore
due to the hazardous weather and small craft warnings in effect, and they would be sending out a rescue
vessel as soon as the front passed; and
WHEREAS, the two young men were determined that they were going to go assist the plane
occupants and get them to shore, as conditions were quickly getting worse with the approaching front;
and
WHEREAS, they were able to assist the pilot and passenger, Mr. James Tharpe and his wife, to
exit the plane and get them into their boat and safely to shore to awaiting emergency medical personnel;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida would like to take this opportunity to publicly express their appreciation and
gratitude to each of these young men, John Callion and James Platt, for their heroism and bravery under
challenging weather conditions, in the rescue of the occupants of the crashed plane. Their quick -thinking
and selfless action saved two people from a worsening situation in the storm -roughened water and what
could have been a very dangerous swim to shore.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 1 la' day of June, 2014.
Mayor Sylvia Murphy
Mayor pro tem Danny L. Kolhage
Commissioner Heather Carruthers
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner David Rice
(SEAL)
ATTEST: AMY HEAVILIN, CLERK
By:
Deputy Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By:
Mayor Sylvia Murphy
MC}t ROE CCU 17TOR E
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ASSISTPT r�cory ATTORNEY
Date _