Tuesday night, the city council approved creating the position, and chose Jeff Reiter, who currently serves as Economic Development Director.
Mayor Bob Gallagher says it's a key part of the city's succession planning - having someone ready to take over when the current city administrator, Decker Ploehn decides to retire.
And Reiter seemed right for the new position.
"He started with the city when he was in high school, and continued to work when he came back from college with the city. Did a great job for us in our Family Museum - led a turnaround in terms of the financial support there that has been continued by Kim Kidwell. Jeff has done an awesome job in economic development."
Mayor Gallagher says for his first job with Bettendorf, Rieter worked as a summer employee at the golf course. And along with his new duties, he'll continue to serve as the city's economic development director.
Ploehn has been city administrator for 32 years.
