The Enterprise has independently verified that Brad Lutz of Omena is currently involved in negotiations to purchase Sugar Loaf Resort from its current owner, Kate Wickstrom.

BRAD LUTZ of Omena, who was the
subject of an Enterprise feature story earlier
this year, is involved in negotiations to
purchase Sugar Loaf Resort.

Lutz did not return phone calls from the Enterprise last week when news broke of his possible purchase of the defunct ski resort – although it was clear that Lutz had been the willing subject of an Enterprise feature story in June.

Lutz had purchased a “help wanted” advertisement in the newspaper, seeking an assistant housekeeper whose duties would include “Anything I ask that’s not illegal, immoral or fattening.”

The unusual ad prompted an Enterprise reporter to follow up. A June 7, 2007, human interest story included an interview with Lutz and a young woman he’d hired to help around his home.

The story reported that Lutz, 48, and his wife, Linda, 44, have three children, ages 12, 10 and 5.

“Within the past few years, they have become permanent residents of Omena,” the story reported.

Lutz was quoted as saying that it had always been his plan to retire when he was 40.

“Linda and I worked really hard, started several businesses, and then invested in real estate, so that now we can afford to do what we really want, which is to spend time with our children,” Lutz said. “We placed the ad because we have other big projects we’re working on, and we could see that we needed an extra set of hands around the house.”

One of those “other big projects” now apparently involves an effort to acquire Sugar Loaf Resort. The effort may be complicated by an ongoing lawsuit involving the resort’s current owner and the owners of a company that provides sewer service to the resort and neighboring housing developments.

Lutz has not provided details of his negotiations with Wickstrom.

Wickstrom has also declined to provide any comment.