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Administration and City Clerk

Decker Ploehn
Decker Ploehn
City Administrator/ City Clerk

Welcome to the Administration Department and City Clerk's Office!

The City Administrator is appointed by the Mayor and reports directly to the Mayor and City Council.  The City Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operations of all city departments with the exception of the Library, and acts as the primary advisor to the Mayor and City Council.   The City Administrator is responsible for implementing all policy directives promulgated by the mayor in the mayor's executive capacity, and by the council in its legislative capacity. 

The City Administrator also serves as the City Clerk and performs all duties as required by the State Code and the City of Bettendorf's Code.  The City Clerk is responsible for preparing council agendas/packets, keeping the minutes, ordinances and resolutions, and issuing various licenses, including but not limited to, liquor licenses, cigarette permits, business licenses and rental licenses.  The City Administrator/City Clerk attends all council meetings, and publishes all public notices, ordinances and minutes as required by law.

Decker is a graduate of St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa with a B.A. in Criminal Justice, and a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Quantico, Virginia, and the National Crime Prevention Institute at the University of Louisville and the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.

Decker serves as Chairperson for the Board of the First Tee of the Quad Cities, Chairperson of the Quad City Local Emergency Planning Council, member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Active Seniors (CASI), Board Member of the United Way and member of the Advisory Board of the Illowa Boy Scout Council.  He is a Past-Chairperson of the Quad City Health Initiative, Past Volunteer Chairman of the John Deere Classic PGA Tour Golf Tournament; Past President of the Board of Directors and current member of the Iowa City Managers' Association; and Past President and current member of the Bettendorf Rotary Club.

Decker has been the Bettendorf City Administrator since 1990.  He also served the City as Chief of Police from 1986 through 1990 and prior to that held positions of Detective Sergeant, Detective, and Patrolman and started his career with the city in 1975.

Decker is married with two adult children, Decker II and Sarah. Decker and his wife, Jayne, reside in Bettendorf.