Submitted Photo Marvin Heller, Berthold, left, receives the Grassroots Government Leadership Award from North Dakota Township Officers Association President Lee Brandvold, Ryder, during the association’s annual convention Dec. 6-7.

BISMARCK — Marvin Heller, chairman of Berthold Township in Ward County, received the Grassroots Government Leadership Award from the North Dakota Township Officers Association at its 55th annual conference Dec. 6-7 in Bismarck.

The award honors a township officer who has performed tasks of the office in a manner above normal, with outstanding dedication and effort. Heller was recognized for his many years of service and his efforts during and after the flood of 2011 that left many roads and culverts damaged in the township.

The NDTOA Legislator of the Year award was presented to Rep. Dave Nehring, R-Bismarck, who represents District 8, which includes parts of Burleigh and McLean Counties. He was recognized for introducing or co-sponsoring several bills favorable to townships and rural citizens. He also was instrumental helping NDTOA support or oppose several other bills that would have impacted townships.

The NDTOA President’s Award, which recognizes an individual who is not a township officer but has contributed to the goals of NDTOA, went to Julie Ellingson of St. Anthony. Ellingson was at the core of a group of associations that supported the

drive for township road funding in the past legislative session. Her artwork in a handout for representatives was impressive and instrumental in securing votes.

Ellingson is executive vice president of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.

Re-elected to the NDTOA board were Lee Brandvold of Ryder, president; Todd Weber of Wheatland, vice president; Al Bekkerus, Grand Forks, District 3 (Northeast); and Gerald Miller, Bismarck, District 5 (South Central). Elected to the District 1 (Northwest) seat was Tom Wheeler, Ray.

The association represents nearly 6,000 officers across the state.

The annual convention featured presentations by Bill Panos, the director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation; Joe Morrissette, director of the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget; Justin Messner and Gerald Miller with the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services; Tim Horner with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute; Amber Boeshans with the Livestock Alliance; Annique Lockard, assistant attorney general; Linda Svihovec, research analyst with the North Dakota Association of Counties; Bryon Fuchs with NDDOT; Dale Heglund, with the North Dakota Local Technical Assistance Program; and a question-and-answer panel featuring Heglund, Fuchs, Mark Verke with the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund and NDTOA legal counsel Thomas Moe.