Plan chief’s wife joins developers

The wife of Kootenai County’s planning director just took a job with Gozzer Ranch Golf and Lake Club, a development still working its way through the planning office.

The Kootenai County Commission gave the $100 million golf course and housing development on 700 acres of hillside above Arrow Point preliminary approval Thursday, just weeks after Mary Wichman was hired as an administrative assistant. Wichman’s first day on the job was Monday.

Planning Director Rand Wichman said no conflict exists because the county commission has final say on all developments and land-use decisions but for perception reasons he will recuse himself from any future staff reviews of Discovery Land Co.’s project.

Rand Wichman said he told the county commission about his wife’s new job last week and they had no problem.

“I told the board ‘you need to be aware of that and proceed accordingly,’ ” Wichman said Monday. “I said, ‘ask lots of questions, I have nothing to hide.’ “

Commission Chairman Gus Johnson didn’t attend the meeting where Wichman disclosed his wife’s new job but said he doesn’t see any problem.

“He just brings us the facts and the commission makes a decision,” Johnson said. “I don’t see a conflict.”

Commissioner Katie Brodie said that it’s great the company is hiring local people.

“It’s opening up job opportunities never before available,” she said.

As planning director, Wichman reviews the staff reports written by the county planners and goes over applications, such as the one for Gozzer Ranch, to make sure the developer is giving the county adequate information about a proposed project. A hearing examiner, contracted by the county, has a public hearing and makes a recommendation to the county commission.

Then, the commission will have another public hearing and make a final decision whether to approve a proposed development.

Discovery is now working to get final plat approval from the county, which will allow the San Francisco-based company to market the lots with minimum sale prices of $200,000 each.

Gozzer representative Andy Holloran said the company hired Mary Wichman because she is a local with an excellent background who will supervise on-site construction activities and help with the outdoor pursuits program.

“She was an ideal person for us regardless of who her husband is,” Holloran said.

Unlike other upscale golf resorts in the area, Holloran said Discovery strives to be family friendly and that means incorporating a wide variety of outdoor recreation in addition to golf.

Gozzer Ranch officials compare the development to The Club at Black Rock — the recently opened upscale gated community and private golf course on the west end of the lake at Rockford Bay.

Renowned golf architect Tom Fazio will design the private 18-hole Gozzer Ranch course on former farmland that is full of rock outcroppings, timber and natural ponds. Plans call for 375 high-end homes and condos in a “farm-inspired” design that developers say would fit in with the rural area east of Highway 97.

Mary Wichman said she pursued the job on her own; not realizing it could become a conflict for her husband. The tennis pro who previously worked for Ironwood Athletic Club said she has a background in recreation management and hopes her administrative assistant position grows into recreation programming for Gozzer Ranch. Wichman declined to disclose her salary.

“I don’t foresee any issues,” Mary Wichman said.