Mercury confirms move to OK possible

FOND DU LAC - After months of speculation, one day of meetings did little to cancel the fears of workers with years at Mercury Marine.

"I'll be there 40 years in August," John Steinke said of his longtime employer.

But, Steinke says he knows the company's future in Fond du Lac is on shaky ground.

"I'd hate to see it go, it'd be a disaster," he said.

Wednesday morning, Mercury leaders told employees the company needs to cut expenses and consolidate. Leaders say the boat engine-maker may transfer its Fond du Lac operations to Stillwater, Oklahoma. Or vice versa, though there are other options.

"We're not necessarily a troubled company," Mercury Marine Sales and Marketing President Kevin Grodzki said.

But, Grodzki says Mercury is at the epicenter of a troubled industry.

"The boat builders who are our customers around the world aren't building as many boats, and that means we aren't building as many engines," he said.

Grodzki says company facilities are operating well under capacity, so Mercury is planning to reorganize.

The company employs 2,000 in Fond du Lac and around 400 in Stillwater, but also has operations in Asia and South America.

Grodzki says all sites are being considered for consolidation, though he says Mercury has been in talks with officials in Oklahoma and Wisconsin.

The company won't say exactly when it plans to make a decision, but Grodzki says Mercury needs to take steps soon.

"We can't delay, we need to make a decision," he said. "That decision is going to consider all of our constituencies, obviously our employees, our customers."

And a community that's embraced the company for decades.

"You kinda hope that it's going to stay here, but then again it's going to be a company decision what they want to do," worker Dan Angle said.

Angle says he just wants and answer, soon.

Mercury Marine leaders also met in private with local officials at an Area Hotel. As it continues to push both Oklahoma and Wisconsin for tax breaks, the company says it's trying to keep community leaders informed and dispel rumors.