Representatives of the Dunn County Historical Society asked the Dunn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday for a $1 million donation to preserve the society’s nonprofit public‑support status after a sudden increase in mineral royalty income.

Linda Kettleson, who identified herself as representing the Dunn County Historical Society, told commissioners the organization had received substantial oil and mineral royalties in recent years that are treated as investment income for IRS public‑support testing. That income, she said, could reduce the society’s public‑support percentage and jeopardize its classification as a public charity under IRS reporting rules.

Kettleson presented the society’s fiscal figures and said the group has engaged an attorney and an accountant to assess options. "When you get down to that section B… that was when our oil royalties first showed up for us, that's where you see that we received a million dollars," she told the board, explaining how the public‑support calculation can be skewed by investment or royalty income.

The society asked the county for a $1,000,000 grant to be placed in a special project or non‑endowment fund to preserve public‑support lookback ratios and give the organization time to plan longer‑term infrastructure projects such as water, sewer and a possible new facility.

Commissioners asked for more detail on project plans, timelines and how grant funds would be administered. Commissioner Klayman moved to table the request until the next meeting so staff and commissioners could review the society’s financials and proposed uses; Commissioner Olsen seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.

The historical society representatives said they would prepare budget and project lists and meet with county staff and the board’s finance committee as needed before the next meeting.