COUNCIL has written off the $67,395 debt owed by Michael and Sue Wilson for rent and other charges related to Sinatra’s Tavern in the City Station Concourse.
Mr and Mrs Wilson closed Sinatra’s Tavern in 1995 and took to the seas in their yacht, leaving behind the debt.
Council has attempted to recover the monies owed to it but council’s legal advisors Minter Ellison said the city was “justified, on a commercial basis”, to write off the debt.
However, council CEO Garry Hunt said if another opportunity arose to recoup the losses, it would be taken.
The pursuit of Mr and Mrs Wilson has been a colourful one. Councillor Bert Tudori referred to an incident where the couple’s yacht was chased by a helicopter.
Councillor Laurance Goodman said he was glad to see the last of the Sinatra’s Tavern episode laid to rest.
Since the Wilsons abandoned Sina-tra’s Tavern, council’s efforts to release it have been dogged by controversy and the building stood empty for a long time.
One potential lessee wanted to turn the building into an amusement centre, to which council objected. The building is now occupied by a medical centre.
