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Dunn County approves $1.1 million to Historical Society to shore up nonprofit status and advance master plan

September 03, 2025 | Dunn County, North Dakota


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Dunn County approves $1.1 million to Historical Society to shore up nonprofit status and advance master plan
The Dunn County Board of Commissioners voted to give $1.1 million to the Dunn County Historical Society to help the society meet the IRS public‑support test and move forward with planning for a new, climate‑controlled museum and site work. The motion passed on a 3‑2 roll call vote: Commissioners Heizer, Olsen and Dalzall voted yes; Commissioners Pelton and Klayman voted no. Linda Kittleson, the society’s bookkeeper, told the commission the group faces a Form 990 public‑support shortfall and that the funds would allow it to pass the two‑year public‑support test and avoid classification as a private foundation. “Without any help, we will be at 7%… we will check the private foundation box,” Kittleson said in presenting the society’s filing and plans. Kittleson and the society’s consultant, Matt Scribe of Short Elliott Hendrickson, described a phased approach: phase 1 is a master site plan and concept work for the north acreage adjacent to the existing museum, timed to take advantage of planned water and sewer work by Dunn Center. Scribe said phase 2 would convert the concept to a final master plan with cost estimates to guide later fundraising and design. Commissioners asked for clarifications about timing and scope; Kittleson told the board the society’s accountants estimate the funds must be received by Sept. 30 for the next Form 990 filing year. The society said the proposed new facility would be a climate‑controlled museum to preserve textiles, photographs and fragile artifacts, while existing outbuildings would continue to display large equipment and machinery. The society also noted potential benefits for regional tourism if the site ties to Theodore Roosevelt–era exhibits and other regional attractions. The commission’s approval directs county staff to prepare the transfer; commissioners said they expect the society to begin phase 2 planning immediately and to report back on how the funds are used and on fundraising for later construction phases. The motion and vote were recorded on the meeting’s roll call.

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Scribe from Workplace AI
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