Wild Rover Owners Spared Liquor License Revocation, Offer to Pay Taxpayers' Bills

The owners of local sports bar The Wild Rover were called to the Village of Frankfort Administration Building March 8 for a liquor license revocation hearing.

In the end, the bar’s license was not revoked, although harsh words were exchanged during the proceedings.

The hearing was called after Wild Rover co-owners James and John Dillon failed to pay approximately $3,000 in 2012 tax fees to the State of Illinois.

The Dillons did not attend a Feb. 28 state hearing to address the matter, at which their license was revoked. The outstanding payments were made March 6.

The Wild Rover owners had been previously notified about the situation at a Feb. 1 village hearing regarding a liquor license violation related to an incident involving the Frankfort Police Department that occurred on New Year’s Day.

During the February village hearing, Village Attorney George Mahoney asked about the outstanding fees and the Dillons said that they had been paid.

“You did not take care of the problem,” said Mahoney, at Friday’s hearing. “I can’t remember one business other than yours that has taken so much time and energy of the Village of Frankfort.”

The Dillons said that they were told by a state representative that they did not need to attend the Feb. 28 hearing.

“It was a simple misunderstanding between three parties,” said James Dillon.

In response to Mahoney’s statement, the Dillons offered to pay any bills that taxpayers might incur as a result of the various incidents surrounding The Wild Rover and the Village of Frankfort.

Mahoney estimated that the total cost to taxpayers was approximately $1,300.

The complaint for revocation was dismissed by Mayor Jim Holland, in accordance with Mahoney’s recommendation.

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