An unlikely savior showed up at the May 16 Mendocino Coast Television board meeting with an offer to provide space to rent for $1,250 per month.
“After hearing of the issues presented after the court judgment for the Footlighters of Fort Bragg against Mendocino Coast Television, I have decided to make an offer towards helping MCTV remain a viable distribution entity for the North Coast of Mendocino County,” wrote Terrence Vaughn, CEO of Mendocino TV & FogSpinner Productions.
Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Jeanine Nadel has ruled that MCTV must give back the Footlighters Laurel Street building and pay $36,315. The tentative ruling stems from the 2007 transfer of the building from then-Footlighters president Bud Farley to MCTV, a transaction the judge found to be illegal.
Last week, the MCTV nonprofit board promised to consider the offer from the similar-sounding private entity. There has been past disagreement between MCTV Executive Director Elizabeth Swenson and Mendocino TV.
Vaughn, a former board member with the nonprofit that is now MCTV, has developed a television production facility in the Company Store on Main Street in Fort Bragg. It was constructed for television broadcasting by KFWU over 20 years ago and KUNO also broadcast there. The facility now features much more modern equipment than MCTV has, such as high definition technology. Vaughn said the studio would be “turn-key” for a downsized MCTV.
“Mendocino TV is busy producing ads and content for our distribution venues, the Coast Cinemas and mendocinotv.com. This offer is limited in time. Your response needs to be made by May 23,” Vaughn wrote to MCTV. “If you need more time, please let me know ASAP. I hope we can move forward with a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
Vaughn presented his idea at the May 16 meeting. Board members promised to consider it, however Swenson thinks the space offered is too small.
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