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Local voices matter. Help us amplify them by contributing to your local newsroom. DECORAH — Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx notified the county Board of Supervisors Monday morning that his longtime Office Deputy, Diana Wilharm, plans to retire at the end of the year after more than 35 years of service, prompting what he called a "critical need" for succession planning in a highly specialized position. "It's kind of [the] bad news that I've been dreading for a while," Marx told the board. "Though I'm very, very happy for her—well earned, well deserved—I've got a problem." Marx explained that Wilharm plays an integral role in the sheriff's office, handling both financial and civil duties, with unmatched institutional knowledge and statewide recognition. "She is considered one of the top two or three experts in the state when it comes to civil process through the sheriff's office," he said, adding that she frequently instructs at the state level and is often consulted by attorneys across Iowa. "Those are big shoes to fill." The civil side of Wilharm's responsibilities, which includes executing court orders, processing evictions, serving subpoenas, and managing complex legal documents, requires significant technical expertise and legal accuracy. According to Marx, the learning curve for the position is steep and likely cannot be addressed with short-term training. "She's given me a date of the end of the year," Marx said. "What I'd like to do is have someone hired and on board by October 1, so we have about a three-month overlap to allow for training." Wilharm has offered to assist pro bono after her retirement, but Marx said he hopes to avoid relying on that. "She wants things to be left in good hands… but obviously, I don't want to take advantage of that," he noted. Marx told the board that no new funding would be required to make the transition. "I'm not requesting funding," he said. "There's actually a line item in [the budget] for such a situation… we've kind of been holding that for this circumstance." Auditor Ben Steines confirmed the existence of a budgeted line for a part-time civil staffer that has remained unused. Additionally, since a new hire would likely start at a lower salary than Wilharm's, Marx said the department would see a cost buffer. Supervisors unanimously voiced support for the sheriff's plan and encouraged him to proceed with advertising the position. "If you find the right person, my opinion is you should bring them on board," Supervisor Steve Kelsay stated. Chair Dan Langreck also told Marx that he "should 'get at it' right away." Marx admitted he had delayed moving forward in part because of reluctance to accept Wilharm's departure. "I was maybe deep down hoping that she wasn't going to go," he said. "But I think she's moving on to grandmother right now, and that ship's left the port." Wrapping up the discussion, Marx expressed appreciation for the board's support. "I was probably in denial and just kicking the can down the road a little bit," he said. "I can't thank you guys enough for the support. That's more than I hoped for coming up here." Become a part of the exclusive circle! Subscribe to the newsletter for free and gain access to special offers, bonus content and insider perks.

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Winneshiek County Sheriff Lays Out Succession Plan as Office Deputy Prepares to Retire