Archive - Mar 12, 2008

In a press release issued Wednesday, the Tecumseh Products has announced plans of moving its headquarters to Pittsfield Township, approximately 30 miles from Tecumseh.

At stake will be a loss of 200 jobs here and $100,000 in annual taxes to the city. Information on tax loss to Tecumseh Schools was not available at press time. “We did everything we could possibly do to keep them here,” said City Manager Kevin Welch. “We presented a conceptual plan to move the Products to the new business and technology park, which would have been a good home.”

Welch said the city will work during the next 30 days to “aggressively” market the large manufacturing plant, located on Patterson Street, between N. Evans and Maumee. The property includes approximately 1 million square feet of manufacturing space.
The following is the company statement: Tecumseh Products Company announces the relocation of its global headquarters to the Ann Arbor, Michigan area

TECUMSEH — Tecumseh Products Company (Nasdaq: TECUA, TECUB) (“Tecumseh” or the “Company”) announced Wednesday, March 12, that as part of its ongoing initiative to build a world-class, global compressor company, the corporate, sales and engineering functions currently located in Tecumseh will be moved to the Valley Ranch Business Park in Pittsfield Township near Ann Arbor. The move will commence in June, with the majority of corporate functions moved by July, and the balance completed by the end of the year.

By MICKEY ALVARADO

A sluggish economy has many businesses looking for ways to survive in Michigan and with recreational activities, including golf, taking a hard hit the Tecumseh Country Club (TCC) is looking at proactive ways to try and curb the problem.

Changes are taking place at the TCC with a new golf pro and management team hired in hopes of attracting more outside community events and memberships.

Dave Richards Resort and Golf Marketing of Bloomfield Hills has recently taken over the management of the club and with the approval of the board of directors, the TCC decided to be more in touch with the community and host many more outside events. Packages are also being prepared to boost club membership and new golf pro Ryan Leitner is confident the TCC is heading in the right direction.

“I think with the marketing team we are definitely moving forward and have nowhere to go but up,” said Leitnner. “We're looking at options. We're going to try and showcase the club a lot more and get new members and the old ones back that left.”

Leitner comes to Tecumseh by way of Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills. He was the assistant pro there during events such as the Ryder Cup and PGA championships. Before that he was the assistant pro for four years at the Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg Ohio and arrived there with experience gathered from the Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania Ohio and three LPGA Jamie Farr Classics. He started his career at Kettering Country Club in Defiance Ohio after playing college golf at Eastern Michigan. Ryan, his wife Mandy and their two children Ethan (4) and Emma (2) currently reside in Maumee.

“We want to get some more corporate outings,” said Leitner, “And we're doing thejunior program, which is open to the community. It's really a big event, we hope to get a lot of kids.”

By DEB WUETHRICH

Over the next couple of months, people will be discussing the pros and cons of two bond proposals being taken to voters on May 6. Superintendent Mike McAran presented some details before the Tecumseh School Board and its audience on Monday night regarding the $12,280,000 and $24,450,000 proposals. McAran reiterated that the current requests originated from a series of strategic planning assessments begun by the district in 2005.

I cannot believe the Tecumseh School Board is so out of touch with the local and national economies.

While most every business in the Continental U.S. has been cutting back — especially Michigan — on spending for wages, benefits, and expansion these people continue to operate like there is no public economic problem. And they’re willing to test the waters to see if their bond will go through anyway.

Evidently they are all paid too well and don’t feel their jobs are in jeopardy — unlike those who have already lost their jobs and savings — and can’t get another job, even with a college degree and years of experience. Well believe it — a deep recession is well on its way.

Hopefully it will not end up like the 1930s where the stock market plunges and the banks close their doors. Outside of the job and home losses, is the board aware of over 100 banks in real trouble?

Carl McBride
Tecumseh