Mercury Marine offered incentives

FOND DU LAC - Local and state leaders say they've done all they can do to try and keep Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac.

"It's been a process. A lot of hours, lot of people doing a lot of work," said State Senator Randy Hopper.

No one wanted to call the situation a bidding war. Instead State Representative John Townsend calls it something else.

"There is competition out there going on," said Representative Townsend.

In response to the news of Mercury Marine possibly leaving the area Townsend has authored a bill that would grant a one-year state sales tax moratorium on boat and motor purchases up to $30,000.

"What we should focus on is stimulating sales," said Townsend. "If you got a plant running at 50-percent capacity what you need to do is generate sales to keep that plant running."

As for an incentive package for the company Governor Doyle and the Commerce Department wouldn't comment on specific details, but just released this statement saying: "Governor Doyle and Secretary Leinenkugel are working closely with Mercury Marine to help it both maintain its market leadership and efficiently operate its business in Wisconsin."

"I can tell you it's a really competitive package, and I think it's unprecedented for what the county, the city, and the state is going to do," said Hopper. "All those components are working hard to keep those jobs here."

Both county and city leaders also declined to talk about specific details.

"We're trying to do what we can in Fond du Lac to make sure the answer is Fond du Lac," said county executive Allen Buechel.

"We're obviously very concerned," said the city's community development director Wayne Rollin. "We value the company a great deal. We look forward to a positive outcome."

A company spokesperson said Thursday Mercury Marine has received offers from both Wisconsin and Oklahoma but wouldn't say what those offers entailed.

Meanwhile state and local officials say they're confident the deals they've put together for the company are good and hope Mercury Marine decides to keep its headquarters, and the 2,000 jobs right here in Fond du Lac.

The company plans to make its decision to stay-or-go by the end of summer. State and local leaders from Oklahoma either declined comment Thursday for our story or did not return our calls.