Comments on: Could Downtown OKC Target Mercury Marine?

By: Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:24:46 +0000

So lets see david, you’re gonna put a diesel and an electric motor in a pickup truck as a tow vehicle ??? Yeah, right … how big will that thing be and will it sell for under a $100,000 ? It may work for trains, but not everyday transportation, which almost all boat owners vehicle must serve dual duty as a household vehicle and tow vehicle. The average guy will need an economical commuting vehicle and your diesel/electric won’t get it.

There is an electric car in most people’s future and it will NOT be large enough to tow a boat. Boating as we know it today will not be accessible to the average middle class person. It will be the domain of the wealthy.

By: david ball

david ball — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:56:58 +0000

lynn, you are partly right and partly wrong. mercury may or may not be around, but not for the reasons you state. after waiting SEVEN months, i finally got delivery of my new e-tech evinrude boat motor. while i felt a little disloyal to oklahoma, mercury does not produce a motor i want to buy. two-stroke engines are vastly superior to four-strokes; if they were not, the market would have shifted to four strokes without government interference long ago. evinrude offered a superior product that pollutes less, weighs less, has more torque, and uses less fuel. moreover, the maintenance and repair cost is far, far less.

however, your arguments about fuel and marine use are just wrong. first, electric motors produce far more torque deliverable to the axle. ever heard of the diesel/electric locomotive? virtually every freight train in the country runs on electric motors, and they pull far more than any car or truck. as to fuel use, boats are NEVER going out of style. technology may change, but as i pointed out above (2 vs. 4 stroke), innovation will keep people moving. if mercury can stay innovative (which is how their company was founded in the first place), they can stay around for a ver long time, indeed.

By: Mercury vote - Fond du lac - Wisconsin (WI) - Page 3 - City-Data Forum

Mercury vote - Fond du lac - Wisconsin (WI) - Page 3 - City-Data Forum — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:15:51 +0000

[...] Stillwater wouldn’t like it either. Stillwater is about 65 mi. from Oklahoma City. Commentary at: Could Downtown OKC Target Mercury Marine? Meanwhile, the county supervisors in Fond du Lac are thinking about imposing a county sales tax to [...]

By: Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:26:14 +0000

When a company relocates ( or locates ) in a community, they bring value to that community. Those businessmen want to realize that value, as opposed to just giving it away for nothing.

Its a reality of doing business. Either get with it or get left behind.

By: Brent

Brent — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:13:46 +0000

As I said above, to my knowledge Stillwater is not seeking out the corp. HQ so we are not taking anything from Stillwater. Rick, perhaps we have a different definition of corporate welfare. Unfortunately, this is how the game is played. States and cities make their best pitches to companies in order to bring jobs to their areas (WI is trying to do the same thing to keep the HQ).

I completely respect your opinion if it is that we should take a position that OKC should stand on its own, no tax breaks, no rebates, nothing should be changed just to lure a corp. HQ to our city and its 900 jobs. However, we all know that just means we are taken off the list of potential sites for relocation. I personally would prefer OKC to stand on its own merits too as OKC should be at the top of every relocation list in my mind, however, the world doesn’t work that way. It is a company’s job to make money and save as much as they can too, if they think they can do that here so much the better for hundreds of Oklahomans. More jobs ultimately mean more tax revenue, that is why these things are done. If we can’t make more money eventually by giving the break, we should never do it though. Therein lies the great debate: Do you make more in taxes from giving the breaks through other income taxes, ancillary businesses to support the HQ, sales taxes, etc. or not? I’m not sure anyone can really answer that, thus the reason for these great discussions. But as I said, I fully respect the position that OKC should stand on its own, it just doesn’t work in today’s business realm.

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:40:04 +0000

It is amazing you people are so eager to handout the tax dollars the city takes from your pockets and give it to a corporation to move their headquarters here. The sad part is, corporate welfare is the only reason downtown exist today. Most everything that is new or still open is thanks to the taxpayers money and their is nothing like giving your tax dollars to a company that is looking to move because they want to cut employee pay. CLASSIC!

By: b boston

b boston — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:17:23 +0000

just so everyone knows merc has NOT changed their original offer to the union in WI. unfortunately for them if there is no change in the original offer from the company according to union rules they have they cannot re-vote on the contract.article in fon du lac paper today says that jobs will start leaving wi. in the last quarter of this year

By: tee

tee — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:58:38 +0000

no one has said anything about the headquaters moving. I proudly work for the Stillwater plant and they will only be moving a big portion of the jobs. around 200 will be staying there

By: amanda

amanda — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:28:18 +0000

NO. OKC needs to stay out of it!!!!!!! the headquarters will do just fine in STILLWATER with the PLANT!!!! the plant in stillwater as enough available land next to it that will be theres to build on for ther HQ space

By: Lynn

Lynn — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:23:50 +0000

You will not see Mercury Marine in Oklahoma at anywhere near its present size. The marine industry ( and RV industry ) has taken a huge hit , not only from the economic crash but also from high gasoline prices. Merc will be downsizing on a large scale.

If oil prices continue to rise and we shift to alternative fuels, there will be real doubts whether a marine industry will exist. You can’t tow boats with electric cars. Not sure CNG can power outboard motors.

The future for this industry has major challenges and Merc may not even be around in a few years.