BEATRICE -- May 28 -- With 44 years of experience in the lawnmower industry, Dick Tegtmeier understands the ties the industry has to the town of Beatrice and what severing some of those ties can mean.
Upon hearing that Husqvarna Turf Care, which employs more than 300 people, will be consolidating operations from Beatrice to Orangeburg, S.C., Tegtmeier realized the effects the move will have on the community.
“I’ve seen a lot of things come and go, but this probably baffles my mind about as much as anything,” Tegtmeier said Thursday. “I’m really shocked and surprised. In a downturn like this, it’s really going to effect (the community) worse than normal.
“That’s more than a community can stand normally. Especially in down times.”
Tegtmeier co-founded Exmark Manufacturing with three others in 1982. Then in 1988, he opened his own mower company, Encore Manufacturing, which still operates today.
Tegtmeier thinks that Husqvarna’s transition was probably unavoidable once the company made up its mind to move.
“When a company makes up its mind to do something, probably hell nor high water is going to keep it from doing it,” Tegtmeier said.
Tegtmeier thinks it’s unusual for the business to move because of the massive building recently built in Beatrice.
He expects that Husqvarna will be able to pay off the building’s lease once the business moves.
Current Husqvarna employees may consider walking out on the company to find a replacement job before the company moves, in an attempt to beat other employees to the punch, Tegtmeier pointed out.
“I think there will probably be a lot of people leaving there to get into the job market before December when everybody will be out there,” Tegtmeier explained. “That could have adverse effects on them immediately. It’s unfortunate.”
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