Dear Editor:
In reference to "Your" View editorial in the Feb. 5 edition of your paper; here is another
view of the reference you made to the Mercury Marine comment in that view. They were
never told they couldn't locate on the Blackwater, but when they were made aware of the
potential risks they would incur with their operation they wisely choose to go elsewhere.
As you know, the Blackwater River is free of industry and it flows down past the Yellow
River Preserve which is another very fine water system.
The Mercury Marine Operation was to be sited at a sensitive location on the river with
wetlands fronting their site and the river. As was described to the public, their operation
would require, multiple, daily, high speed boat excursions down the river and back, in the
development of their outboard engines. This, combined with the potential for
environmental issues at such a sensitive site from their every day industry operations,
were certainly major factors in their choice of a site location. Their decision was made
from a business point of view, not because of a "great public uproar." By seemingly very
few. How do a few make a great uproar? At least that is my view.
Ray Slingerland, Milton
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Mercury Marine remembered