River Fields Inc

“Robert griffith and meme sweets runyon have a family relationship.”

“The 990 is prepared by the organization's accounting firm from information provided by the executive director. Once the form 990 is prepared it is reviewed in detail by the treasurer and the ceo and president and then sent to the governing body.”

“The board of trustees reviews annually and discusses the conflict of interest policy. Each trustee is required to sign the policy annually and submit it to the governance committee chairman. Additionally, this policy is discussed in governance committee meetings. If a trustee knows of a conflict, this conflict is brought to the attention of the chairman, ceo and president and governance chairman. At that time the trustee is advised concerning appropriate actions, the conflict is discussed specifically at the governance committee and if necessary, at the board level. It has been regular practice for trustees to be required to both write letters stating their conflict and to leave the room, and certainly not to vote if the subject of the conflict is discussed or if there is a vote concerning the issue.”

“The executive director's salary was established based on a board review by an independent professional salary and benefits firm which used national comparability data and contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and the decision. The only changes in salary since that process has been an increase in some years, not in all years, based on only cost of living adjustments. No other directors, officers, or key employees are paid.”

“The articles are available to anyone from the kentucky secretary of state's office. The original bylaws are similarly available but amended and restated bylaws are not. The organization has no constitution. Its financial statements are not made available to the general public. The conflict of interest policy is made available upon request.”

“River fields protects cultural and natural landscapes along the ohio river, stewarding 2,300 acres in conservation easements and managing 65 acres owned outright. We serve as a trusted voice to our public, advocating for sustainable development practices and thoughtful planning that preserves our shared heritage. We engage our members in outdoors educational programming, which we also provide free of charge for teens in foster care at a partner organization.”

“Programming for teens in foster care, master plan for garvin brown nature preserve, engagement in new partnerships for ohio river stewardship”

“Land conservation - this important program area focuses on the protection, mostly permanent, of natural and cultural resources including scenic and agricultural resources through voluntary conservation easements or purchase of land in fee simple. We work directly with interested landowners and citizens as they decide whether to execute conservation easements or donate their land. With almost 2,200 acres of farmland of cultural landscapes, wetlands, open space, river corridor and watershed properties now protected forever from unwise development, river fields provides a strong, clear voice for land conservation that is listened to throughout this region and beyond. We hold easement in three counties - jefferson, oldham, and shelby county all of which are in the ohio river watershed. We hold and monitor annually 19 conservation easements, seven of which are historic preservation and conservation easements held jointly with the ky heritage council, kentucky's agency for historic preservation. One major easement, the 400-acre shelby trails park, is open to the public year-round. Importantly, river fields also has 10 properties held in fee simple, most of which is open to the public. River fields largest property owned in fee simple, garvin brown preserve, is a 45-acre nature preserve open to the public and enjoyed by countless thousands every year. A second newer property, recently enhanced, the fairview scenic pull-off encourages the public to park and enjoy a dramatic, glorious view of louisville, indiana, and the ohio river.”

“Education - encourage and empower all citizens to protect the river and its surrounding lands. Our largest email list allows us to communicate with any person who signs up. We send out educational information, alerts about public meetings and critical issues that impact the ohio river corridor. We accept every opportunity to train and educate the public, neighborhoods, and professional advisors to landowners. We offer annual educational events on protected lands, always led by a professional. River fields works closely with its members, governmental agencies, civic organizations and news media to strengthen the community involvement and knowledge about environmental issues and other important topics. We train regional citizens and leaders on the legal and professional operational elements of land conservation. We are particularly adept at educating citizens about the federal law, section 106 which helps stakeholders reduce, and mitigate negative impacts on historic properties from a federal undertaking.”

“Advocacy - river fields takes positions based only on the facts and the law. We seek creative solutions that promote protection and enhancement of natural, scenic historic and agricultural resources and open spaces. We promote planned development and growth management, greater public access, rational transportation decisions and good urban design. We are proud of our reputation as a willing negotiator in efforts to promote natural and historic, land conservation, preservation of environmentally sensitive land and wise water use. We always work toward the protection of clean air, soil, water, and historic neighborhoods. We are a lead non-profit in the preservation of historic african american resources which are so often ignored. For example, for over eight years, the neighborhood plan for an important historic african american neighborhood, which has state-wide significance, has been an advocacy priority. River fields funded the work of the center for neighborhoods, another partner, to lead that neighborhood plan. In 2020, the neighborhood plan was approved by the louisville metro council. The advocacy program covers decisions from countless local, state, and federal agencies. In metro louisville, monitoring and advocacy takes place for proposals in the ohio river corridor that come before the planning commission, board of zoning adjustment, department of public works and the metropolitan sewer district, to name a few. In the commonwealth of kentucky, monitoring and advocacy concerning ohio river corridor projects relate to the ky transportation cabinet, the ky division of water, and other related agencies. Infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and dams in the ohio river corridor are carefully assessed. A variety of tools are used in all these areas.”